HQ157 - PRINT edition

YOUR FREE COPY ISSUE 157 | 2021

SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE ISSUE 157 DECEMBER 2021

SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE HQ

Innovation.

Elegance.

Distinctiveness.

Your ride redefined in Samshield Headwear & Apparel.

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Dear readers, It’s lovely to have you with us for this second newformat print edition. This edition will remain ‘on shelf’ for the next 12 weeks and will be replaced by HQ158 in mid-March.

Like last time, the magazine will be exclusively stocked by our advertisers to thank them for their generous support of the initiative to make this magazine FREE to everyone who wishes to read it. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have them on board and are so grateful to them for their assistance since we started with this new project in June. Please support their stores and businesses!

They are all fully committed to creating a better equestrian community for all involved, and we want to support that in any way we can.

There’s lots of great content in this issue (if we do say so ourselves), ranging from an interview with Desiree Davidson on her remarkable journey with Le Cadeau to exercises for perfecting the simple change. If you want to know more about the horse-human bond – look no further than Ryan Tehini’s article on this subject – and if you want a chuckle, Pridey is there to keep you entertained (and his mother frustrated). For those interested in horse nutrition, we have an article on forage and also one on the potentially deadly condition

of choke. Then we take an in-depth look at the ways of building fitness and discuss the factors that aid in assisting our horses with weight loss.

From a human fitness perspective, Skye Littlefield then delves into the benefits of yoga for riders and gives us a few exercises to make sure we start the new year on the right foot!

Our next monthly digital edition will be, as always, out on the 1st, so you will have some reading for New Year’s Day. As mentioned earlier, we’ll see you for our next print edition in the middle of March.

We’re thrilled to be sharing another free issue with you and hope you enjoy the content. We hope 2022 is a year filled with good health, much happiness and, of course, ALL the horses.

With much love,

Lizzie and xxx the HQ team Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor

Designer: Mauray Wolff Advertising: Tanya Kleynhans

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ISSUE 157 | 2021

IN THIS ISSUE 04 Capital Stud Hybrid Auction 2021

38 Feeling the burn

74 Understanding forage

A resounding success

Helping your horse to burn calories through exercise

What you need to know

12 Desiree Davidson

42 Focusing on fitness

80 No choke

And the magnificent Le Cadeau

A new year’s resolution

Understanding this scary health condition

20 Position perfect

48 Body talk

84 AskHQ

Fine-tuning your jumping position

Understanding body language

Your equestrian questions answered

26 The simple change

54 Building trust

92 Products we love

Less ‘simple’ than it may seem

With your horse

Shopping fun

28 Improving the rider-horse bond

60 Gaited horses

95 Resolutions from Pridey

For better performance

What you need to know

For us

32 The wonders of walk

64 Equestrian Affair

The primary pace

A brand to be admired

34 Yoga

70 Hardy and versatile

For horse riders

The origins of the Basotho Pony

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CAPITAL STUD HYBRID AUCTION 2021

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

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The Capital Stud 2021 Hybrid Auction was certainly a high point in the equestrian calendar and a top way to finish the year for all in attendance. The 2021 auction marked a return to live auctions, and for those of us able to attend in person, the experience was charged with emotion, camaraderie and, of course, great anticipation. This auction also brought the first-ever hybrid experience to South Africa, enabling anyone to either be there in person or watch the live stream. For those tuning into the live stream, the hybrid platform for bidders, the work of the cameramen and of course, Aidan Lithgow, the auctioneer, made the experience as good as it was for those in the room.

The quality of the horses on offer was exceptional. We saw scope, technique and rideability from these expertly produced youngsters, and the overall quality was world-class. Congratulations must go to the Capital Stud team on achieving this feat of brilliance and showing the collection off so marvellously to the captivated audience.

The atmosphere was real, with the auction hall moving from goosebumps to tears and back again in a matter of minutes. It was thrilling to be there and be part of the action. The collection of horses carried an energy of their own, and their presence in the arena was certainly felt. The results speak for themselves, but it is safe to say that Capital Stud is producing a very special type of sport horse for the future of the equestrian sport in South Africa.

THE EVENT The Friday night session with the under-saddle presentation of the auction horses was better attended than ever before. A first introduction to the arena and an audience for these young horses was testing, and it was a proud moment for the team to see the youngsters perform better and better. The celebrations went on late into the night with nervous energy anticipating the sale the next day.

Saturday morning commenced with a presentation of some young and current Capital stallions to the audience. It was special to see a selection of young stallions from the upper echelons of Europe’s current offering, who Henning has purchased over the last few years. Henning’s investment in these horses and, by the same token, in South African equestrian sport is really something to be admired.

The world’s best bloodlines were on display for all to see, and the future certainly looks bright for Capital Stud breeding and South African sport.

In the words of Dirk Zagers: What Henning Pretorius has created in South Africa in terms of sport and breeding is unbelievable. His input lifted the warmblood breeding to the next level. For a long time, the South African sport depended on European imports but with the quality of horses that Capital Stud breeds we are going to see more home-bred horses at the top of the sport.

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After this impressive display, Henning Pretorius gave an opening speech to welcome the assembled crowd. In his own words:

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Capital Hurley and Capital Don Castello with Jorja Rorich are also ascending the showjumping ranks at impressive speed. With podium finishes under their belts, we know we’ll see much more of this team next year.

Then, of course, there is Capital Magic Boy – excelling at the top of the sport with Ronnie Healy. We’ve been delighted to see him progressing through the grades and know there are big things to come from this talented horse.

In other exciting news, Capital Night Star, the full-brother of Capital Magic Boy, has been bought back by the Stud, as Nicole Horwood and I are in no doubt of his talent and plan to send him overseas to show his quality on the international circuit.”

“With all of the changes over the past 12 months both globally and here at the Stud, I can honestly say that my love for sport horses and my vision to see South African horses and teams competing at international levels has never been surer. Aside from my love and focus on bloodlines and genetics, I am more committed than ever to the development of our young horses and the Capital Stud team.

We continue to seek better ways to give our young horses the best introduction and exposure in their formative years, with all of our horses now spending an extra year under saddle. We feel this and the idyllic conditions at Summerhill will ensure our horses have the time and space to grow and develop into the world-class athletes they are bred to be.”

THE COLLECTION

There is no doubt that the work Henning and his dedicated team have put into creating this collection has produced some exceptional athletes, and a glance at the young stallions on display and the damlines he has imported, shows how committed he is to the future of the sport.

The selection of horses on offer on this auction should make the Capital Stud Team incredibly proud. Henning’s vision, the talented team of riders and, of course, the horses themselves are all responsible for the success of this auction. From top international level competitors to the best amateur horses available, there really was a horse for everyone on this auction.

Henning then went on to look at the successes of the Stud in the past 12 months. In his words: ◊

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“Capital My Lady needs no introduction, winning everything there is to win with her wise beyond his years, Thomas van Rijckevorsel. After selecting her on our 2017 auction himself, he has certainly proven that this partnership is the one to beat, and we look forward to seeing where Thomas will go with his vision, determination and the sheer weight of his talent.

Capital Moonlight and Capital Kamron, again a pair needing no introduction, arrived in Belgium with Kelly O’Connor earlier this year. The two of them are excelling under the Rotoflo banner, with Capital Moonlight coming 7th in his first-ever 1.40m competition. We know that big news is sure to come from Kelly and her overseas team.

Then, Capital Levubu, another of our magnificent stallions, is performing exceptionally under Bronywn Meredith Dos Santos and now flying around the 1.50m tracks with ease and consistent podium finishes.

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To reflect on this collection and its origins, one also has to look at the stallions who have produced them. Homerus, Kronos and of course, Colnardo had a large influence on this collection, and these stallions are deservedly a great source of pride for all at Capital.

And, yet, the biggest influence, with seven spectacular progeny on the auction, was undoubtedly Rendement. Henning fittingly finished his speech with a very emotional tribute to Rendement: “As most of you will almost certainly know, we lost Rendement suddenly just a few months ago. This horse was a true gentleman, with endless talent and, in the words of Johan Lotter, the heart of a lion. Rendement competed internationally with Johan, achieving great acclaim overseas; all of which culminated in a wonderful performance at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010.

We couldn’t be more proud to have provided this stallion with the retirement he so well deserved at Summerhill Equestrian for the last few years, and just wish that he could have had a few more years to further bask in the glory of his achievements. We feel his passing keenly. Our only consolation is the talent and temperament he so clearly passes onto his offspring. For anyone taking home a Rendement youngster tonight, please know that you are sitting on a truly great horse, carrying the genes of the most decorated stallion, who until very recently, stood on South African soil. He was a special horse and his offspring are no different.”

With this demonstration of Henning’s dedication and love for his sporthorses, the auction commenced with Capital Cadillac, Lot 1, entering the room. As soon as he entered the arena, the energy grew to a new level. For the next few hours, the bids flew with a mixture of bids from the floor, and the ‘ping’ of the online bidders. Cheers of excitement and pure exhilaration filled the room, culminating in emotional meetings between horse and rider as the hammer came down. If the love felt in the room was anything to go by, these horses are going to some very special homes. We are certain that it will not be long before these horses are clearing up in the showjumping arena.

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YOUNG AND CURRENT STALLIONS ◊

Capital Toulouse (2019) (Diarado x Cha-Cha (Chacco Blue). This stallion is out of the same mother as Capital Moonlight.

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Capital Jaures (2019) (Baloubet du Rouet x Hera van’T Roosakker (Wandor van de Mispelaere))

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Capital Todos de Regor (2019) (Chacco Blue x Centa de Muze (Cento))

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Capital Hermes Pommex Z (2019) (Halifax van her Kluizebos x Nusha (Emerald van’T Ruytershof))

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Capital Harton vd Berghoeve Z (2019) (Heartbreaker x Hiamant van’T Roosakker (Diamant de Semilly))

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Then the young stallions already on the showjumping circuit and those soon to join, Capital Impossible, Figaro d’Isigny, Qorland and Cornet Blue.

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We also had a chance to see Levubu and Kronos, who need no introduction, but it was beautiful to see them under a different spotlight.

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RESULTS The results of the fifth Capital Stud Auction really speak for themselves. The quality for these talented youngsters was visible. Those bidding were determined to win their chosen lots. Two lots deserve special mention for the price-tags they achieved. Firstly we have Capital Claribel, the “beautiful, big, blood-type horse”, who prompted fierce bidding wars, and eventually sold for R1.4million. Described by the team as “looking even more promising than her father, Capital Colnardo, did at this age”, it is no surprise that people fought hard to take her home. Then Capital Kasane, the talented Kannan colt, who topped the million mark at R1.05million and generated great excitement in the room. In the words of Dirk Zagers “This horse has endless potential and quality. He has a great canter and enormous power.” We can certainly advocate for the fact that he really can jump!

Image: Lauren Courtenay Photography

Image: Lauren Courtenay Photography

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FINAL THOUGHTS HQ wishes all of the new owners the best of luck and every success with their new horses. Finally, we need to congratulate the Capital Stud Team for all of their hard work and their investment in breeding and producing this exquisite collection. We can’t wait to see where 2022 takes you and your horses!

RESULTS Lot 1: Capital Cadillac (Capital Capriccio x Capital Shiraz x Wachmann III) R550 000 Lot 2: Capital Holden (Capital Homerus x Capital Shiraz x Rendement) R250 000 Lot 3: Capital Kingston (Capital Kronos x Capital A Star x Caretino) R300 000 Lot 4: Capital Harvard (Capital Homerus x Mylord Carthago x Quidam de Revel) R260 000 Lot 5: Capital Raelynn (Rendement x Concorde van de Helle x Sheyenne de Baugy) R400 000 Lot 6: Capital Rohan (Rendement x Capital Capriccio x Pavarotti van de Helle) R280 000 Lot 7: Capital New Pleasure (Cayado x Casido x Lucky Lionell) R360 000 Lot 8: Capital Calluna (Consuelo x Land Earl x Trocadero xx) R450 000 Lot 10: Capital Chipinge (Capital Conlanc x Boris van het Kluizebos x Darco) R380 000 Lot 11: Capital Rolex (Rendement x Optimum van de Wellington x Landjunker I) R300 000 Lot 12: Capital Rouge (Rendement x Capital Ulior van het Wuitenshof x Filou des Mesnils) R440 000 Lot 13: Capital Andora (Arezzo VDL x Capital Castigo x Rivale d’Or) R340 000 Lot 14: Capital Renegade (Rendement x Capital A Star x Royal Bravour) R360 000 Lot 15: Capital Coretta (Capital Colnardo x Chin Win x Stakkato) R370 000

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Lot 17: Capital Quality (Zirocco Blue VDL x Stakkato x Lord Caletto) R510 000 Lot 18: Capital Hollywell (Capital Homerus x Capital Hitoshi x Coronado) R360 000 Lot 19: Capital Cairo (Corland x Capital Castigo x Capital Capriccio) R320 000 Lot 20: Capital Kamora (Capital Kronos x Capital A Star x Bambix) R730 000 Lot 21: Capital Hollybush (Capital Homerus x Capital Don Cumarco x Capital Ulior van het Wuitenshof) R230 000 Lot 22: Capital Claribel (Capital Colnardo x Mylord Carthago x Conquest van de Helle) R1.4 million Lot 23: Capital Hawk (Capital Homerus x Nabab de Reve x Ramiro Z) R560 000 Lot 24: Capital Rufina (Rendement x Guidam x Zeus) R400 000 Lot 26: Capital Clover (Capital Castigo x Capital Shiraz x Bambix) R240 000 Lot 27: Capital Heartly (Capital Homerus x Capital Colnardo x Capital Shiraz) R550 000 Lot 28: Capital Kasane (Kannan GFE x For Pleasure x Corrado I) R1 050 000 Lot 29: Capital Cullinan (Capital Castigo x Alzu Cyclone II x Bambix) R260 000 Lot 30: Capital Horizon (Capital Homerus x Capital Colnardo x Major de la Cour) R350 000 Lot 31: Capital Rembrance (Rendement x Pavarotti van de Helle x Concerto II) R475 000

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PHOTO: HILARY O’LEARY

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PHOTOGRAPHY: HILARY O’LEARY, L.C. PHOTOGRAPHS AND PIX BY ALEX

Desiree Davidson And the magnificent Le Cadeau

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Magazine was fortunate enough to catch up with Desiree Davidson after her stupendous tied-second in the South African Derby 2021 with the one and only Regenesis Vet’s Le Cadeau.

HQ: How did you get into riding in the first place?

Desiree: My family are not horsey at all, but my best friend at school loved horses and rode every weekend. From 13, I would ride with her, and I always absolutely loved it! At 14 I presented my dad with a business plan to show that I could afford to own a horse and maybe even make a profit. He listened to my hair-brained scheme and the next day asked me to re-pitch the idea. The second time around he listened more carefully, and quizzed me throughout. At the end of the long and involved discussion, in which I’m certain my logic was mostly flawed, he agreed. He and my mom have been supporting my riding career ever since!

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HQ: Tell us about the Callaho Auction in 2012 when you bought Le Cadeau?

Desiree: It’s a crazy story, and I still can’t quite believe it. For years I had been buying Thoroughbreds with my dad, producing them, and then selling them on. I had planned to go to the Callaho Auction for the party, and my dad said he was keen to come along just in case we could snap up a bargain. We weren’t in the market for a horse, and I didn’t think we had enough money to be shopping, so it was literally just a fun trip. I hadn’t ridden the horses or really looked at them too closely.

When we arrived at Callaho, I went to meet the auction horses in the stables. My dad was asking lots of questions. As we were leaving the barn, I told my dad to wait so I could go back and just quickly meet Lot 20. There had been a big group around his stable as we’d come past, and I was pretty confident that Lot 20, Callaho Le Cadeau, would be the top seller. I wanted to meet him so I could remember the moment when he won Derby one day! He was just so charismatic and friendly in the stable – there was certainly something special about him.

We went straight into the auction with everyone else, and it was great to watch the lots sell one by one. Lot 20 came up about midway through, and there was a lot of bidding. He was sitting at around R600,000 when all of a sudden my dad raised a paddle and placed a bid. I panicked. I was standing behind him, shocked, and asked him what he was doing. He just kept bidding, standing there as cool as a cucumber with a smile on his face.

“Stop, dad”, I said, “Mom’s gonna kill me”, but he just kept bidding. Needless to say, we placed the winning bit at R750,000, and I just burst into tears and didn’t stop crying for about two weeks.

I had no idea what he was planning – absolutely none. My family are so supportive of me and my riding, but I had no idea we had budget, and I had no idea that I would ever own a horse like Le Cadeau.

HQ: What did you do when you got him home?

Desiree: He was only four when we bought him, and he’d had the most try-outs of all the horses that year, so we gave him over a month off when he arrived. It also allowed me to get my head around owning a horse like him.

Ultimately, we took our time in producing him. He’s a big and long horse, so we went slowly to get him strong enough and conditioned enough to perform at his best. It was also good for me to go slowly, as whilst I’d jumped in the 1.40s with my old Thoroughbred Tropical Storm, I wasn’t used to riding such quality. By this time, I was also a parent to two young children and had a full-time job in IT, so I had to prioritise and couldn’t dedicate all of the time I wanted to to LC. HQ: So tell us about LC? Desiree: I’m never choosing a horse again – my dad must choose all future horses for me! He literally chose the perfect horse for me that day on the auction.

LC is a big puppy dog. He loves his job and is so keen to please. He never puts a foot wrong.

He loads himself into the horsebox, gives pony rides to my kids and yet jumps 1m50. He loves to jump and can squeal with excitement when he gets started.

You’ll never find a better horse than my horse.

I’m so lucky.

PHOTO: HILARY O’LEARY

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PHOTO: PIX BY ALEX

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hated every single minute. Ultimately, I went into an apprenticeship with Mint Management. They trained me in IT for the financial industry, and this is what I still do today. It’s full-time and hard work, but I enjoy it.

HQ: How do you fit it all in?

Desiree: It’s hard. I have to be organised and I’m really lucky to have such supportive people around me. My yard owner Tracy Glover is amazing.

She loves LC like her own. He gets carrots every night, and if my kids need to come to the yard, she is happy for them to use the pool and have fun. Her grooms are excellent, which really helps.

My friends are also always willing to muck in and help, and I have a lot of very knowledgeable friends who act as a great support system.

HQ: Do you have lessons?

Desiree: Yes – I’m a big believer in coaching, and I think there is a right person for the right point for every combination. I had lessons with Anna-Marie Esslinger and with Mandy Johnstone for a long time and go to Michel van Eck when he is out here. Michel loves LC. The first time I ever went to a lesson with him, he asked if he could sit on him as he said he "looked divine". He rode, said nothing, and then asked if he could buy him. He told me that in his opinion LC is the best amateur horse in the world.

Currently, I have lessons with Tossy Raynor, who has been wonderful for LC and me. I knew she was going to be great when I saw her spectating at a Michel van Eck clinic. I never stop learning, and neither does Tossy – and that is so important for me. When I first met Tossy, she asked me if I had any particular goals. I told her that I’d like to jump Derby next year. I could see she was a little taken aback but has been nothing but supportive. She has built us up at a pace that has worked well for both of us, and we were ready for Derby.

PHOTO: L.C. PHOTOGRAPHS

HQ: And LC’s breeding?

Desiree: He’s by Lissabon out of a Heartbreaker mare. There is a full-brother coming up on one of the Callaho Auctions, and I’m excited to see him, although I don’t believe you can beat LC. HQ: And your job? What do you do?

Desiree: My original degree is in Psychology, and I got this through UNISA as all I wanted to do was ride. I grew up in Rustenburg, and UNISA allowed

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me to keep riding at home and study. After this, I moved to Burlington Stables and started as a work rider for Anne-Marie Esslinger. At this stage, my ambitions were to move into the riding industry, but over time I realised that the money wasn’t going to allow me to buy the best horses and compete at the top. While I was working with Anne-Marie, my horse physio’s husband was looking for someone to sell industrial footwear, and this was where I ended up. I was great at it but

HQ: In terms of training with LC, what do you do?

Desiree: LC doesn’t jump a lot. In fact, I recently bought a young horse just to help me to jump a bit more and get my eye in. LC and I jump once a week normally and only jump big once a month.

I want him to last as long as he can, so I keep the frequency low.

Tossy has also been great for tailoring LC's training to suit his body type. Because LC is so long and hypermobile, we do a lot of lateral work and pole work to help him develop muscle behind the saddle and to keep him strong.

In terms of specific Derby training, for months in advance, we did a lot of canter training and

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PHOTO: PIX BY ALEX

interval work. Every other weekend we would go to the track at Witpoort and let him canter. To keep him moving, with long, slow work, he went in the walker every single morning for 20 minutes, and then six weeks out from Derby, we put him in for 20 minutes in the afternoon as well. We then did two Derby outings, which is all I had time for with work. We went to Carl Boonzaier to practice the bank and the dyke, and then we went to Bryce McCall to play with the Derby track there HQ: How do you keep LC in good shape for shows?

Desiree: I use the Regenesis Vet products and also the Novitabiotech Hyaluronic Acid and Proteoglycans. I find them all beneficial. I then have Jane, who is his physio and treats him every month, and Jan Stills, who will come through before an extra big show. I use thermal mud on his legs every time we jump, and Tracy feeds him well and gives him the very best grass.

HQ: So, you moved into the big classes this year…

Desiree: Yes, my first big class with LC was at Brits and then my first World Cup Qualifier was

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in Shongweni. We decided to do it this way, as Shongweni is such a big spacious arena that we thought it would be easier for LC with his long frame for his first WCQ. We had poles down, but it was a positive experience. At one of the earlier shows, Anna told me that we’d need to do four or five big shows before Derby and then LC would learn to lift his eye and fly – and that’s exactly what happened.

HQ: So tell us about Derby?

Desiree: On the morning of the Derby, I woke up and went straight to the stables. I then rode my other horse, a youngster, and helped Tracy jump two other young horses. By this stage I had serious butterflies, so I thought I’d better go and get some breakfast before I was too nervous to eat. Tracy and I went to Jackson’s. I basically kept moving the whole day and had my friends around me.

By the time we arrived at Kyalami Park, I was terrified. The qualifying rounds seemed to be built so sweetly and then walking the course on the Sunday, I couldn’t believe it. It just seemed gigantic. The only thing that reassured me is that I have absolute confidence in LC. If I can get him in the right canter and have him connected, I can let

him do his job. He is incredible. He knows that if he gets around and keeps his mother safe, he gets carrots.

He had qualified well in the early classes and absolutely loved the parade and the Bob Charter. I had wondered about riding another horse for the parade, so he didn’t get too excited, but he loved every minute.

In the round itself, I was nervous – LC never spooks and yet he had a good look at Number 1.

After that, he jumped brilliantly. Of course, we knocked the gates, and you can kick yourself for it afterwards, but we were both tired. He was much fitter than I was, but I don’t think he could quite believe how long the track was. In fact, I don’t know if you saw it, but he fell asleep – completely – in the prize-giving.

I honestly feel our bond is so unique, and to go round that track as we did was a once in a lifetime experience for me.

HQ: What does the future hold for you two?

Desiree: We’ll see! I’m excited to get more confidence and mileage at this level and see how we do. LC and I will keep doing what we love for as long as we possibly can!

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SOLE MANDATE POA Gerhard Dreyer | RE/MAX Outeniqua Cell: +2783 787 6956 E-mail: dreyerg@remax-outeniqua.co.za Stretching from the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains to the doorstep of the Indian Ocean, in the heart of the Garden Route, lies the beautiful town of George, Western Cape.

This 35.8393 ha farm has been developed from a virtually empty canvas. The space has been developed into a prestigious graded Equestrian Club, 2.6km from George Airport and about 2.3km from Fancourt. On arrival, one is met by a sculpted entrance gate opening into a palm tree-lined paved lane with several irrigated paddocks on either side.

On the left-hand side, there are two sand arenas. Adjacent here to is found at Block B, 22 stables, two tack rooms and a wash bay housed under a 430 m2 roof. On the right-hand side of the lane is Block A of 520m2 in a luxurious, spacious American barn style, accommodating 16 horses, a lounge with bathroom and shower, a client’s tack room, a private tack room, a feed room and two wash bays. Block A has also been popular to host weddings. Outside Block B, there is a dressage arena of 20 by 60metres.

The Acropolis is a fully equipped 300 seat events venue available for various events, with a judge’s room and an office on the upper level and a fully equipped industrial fitted kitchen.

All venue equipment is included with the property. In front of the Acropolis are a graded jumping grass arena and a graded grass showing arena hosting many sponsored events.

A two bedroom Farm Manager's Cottage and three self-contained one bedroom labourer cottages, as well as a shed with automotive industrial doors, industrial racking and a thick screed-it industrial floor are situated on the right-hand side of the farm entrance. A two bedroom cottage is situated on the water’s edge. The dam is fed by a water turn four times per month and a furrow from a neighbouring farm on request. A borehole is used for irrigation and fresh water use for the residents.

The main house has four bedrooms, three bathrooms of which two are full en-suite, an open lounge, living area, a kitchen with a separate scullery, an inside braai area and domestic living quarters outside. Adjacent to the house is a seven-car garage with automated garage doors.

Behind the trees are four open-plan self-catering cottages accessible by car and the floating walkway, and then finally included in the price are a list of farm implements.

For more information visit our website: www.remax.co.za

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POSITION PERFECT Fine tuning your jumping position

S

howjumping has become an increasingly technical discipline, demanding utmost precision from horse and rider. While most can acknowledge rider error when a pole comes down after you took the wrong stride, it can be difficult to know what went wrong when you arrived at the fence at a good distance and pace but managed to take the pole down regardless. In these instances, it can be worth looking at your jumping position as a potential source of error.

We often forget the importance of a good jumping position over the fence, as most of our training focuses on the actual ride around the course.

This article will investigate the most common jumping position errors as correcting them can help your horse give you his best effort over the fence and avoid those pesky poles.

BALANCE AND BODY CONTROL When it comes to riding well, balance and body control are everything.

Uneven weight distribution can sometimes mean the difference between a clear round and a pole coming down. Doing too much with your body can upset your horse’s balance and similarly cause those poles to drop. Sitting like a sack of potatoes will unsurprisingly also result in a less than best effort over the fence. As with all good things in life, practice makes perfect and regular exercises in and out of the saddle will improve your seat and position in no time.

THE ‘PERFECT’ JUMPING POSITION • Riders should be in the two-point position over a fence with slightly more or less fold in the hips, depending on the size and type of the jump.

• Upper body strength is essential for keeping your body light over the fence. You don’t want to be tipping too far forward and falling onto your horse’s neck, but you equally don’t want to be behind the movement.

• Your back should be even and straight, not concave or convex, as either of these shapes will weaken your upper body and lessen your stability.

• Your arms and hands should follow your horse’s neck so that you don’t catch him in the mouth.

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• Your leg and knee should be closed but not tight. You especially don’t want to be squeezing with your knee to secure your position as this will restrict your horse’s shoulder movement, but at the same time, you don’t want to be flopping around in the saddle.

• Your heel should be lightly down (not forced) to provide security, especially on landing.

Looking down.

MOST COMMON ERRORS LEANING TOO FAR FORWARD Lots of riders compromise their jumping position by leaning too far forward; this is most common among novice riders and those who lack upper body strength. Tipping your body forward too much, distributes the weight forward, making it more difficult for the horse to get the front end of his body up and over the jump. Leaning too far forward can also make it difficult for you to get your body back in the landing phase, which can upset your horse’s stride, especially in a combination. Leaning forward at the base of the jump is another common mistake, and what often

Concave back over the fence.

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HORSE AND RIDER

YOUR FITNESS Out of the saddle, work on your core strength. Good areas to target with exercises are your abs, upper and lower back, shoulders, chest and calf muscles. Try to get some core strength sessions in at the gym or on your bedroom floor a few times a week – you’ll soon be finding it much easier to sit up over the jumps and on landing!

ends up happening in this scenario is that the rider drops their contact as they put their body forward. The connection with the horse is then compromised, and he may end up deep at the fence or even stop.

Convex back.

LEANING TOO FAR BACK On the opposite end of the spectrum, leaning too far back distributes the weight backwards, and this can detract from the quality and rhythm of the canter, especially in the take-off and landing phase. Leaning back can also result in you being left behind the horse’s movement, and you could end up catching your horse in the mouth.

LOOKING DOWN

UNSTABLE LEG

Looking down over the fence and on landing instantly makes your shoulders curl medially and tilts your upper body forward. Looking down also naturally causes your back to round. Always be conscious of keeping your head up and shoulders back in all of your jumping phases.

Your upper body position can influence your lower leg and heel. Leaning too far forward causes your lower leg to go back and your heel to go up. Leaning too far back causes your lower leg to swing forward into the back of your horse’s shoulder. Gripping with your knee not only causes

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HORSE AND RIDER

TWO-POINT VS THREEPOINT POSITION Two-point position is where the rider’s two legs are against the horse’s sides, while the seat is out of the saddle. Three-point position is where the rider’s two legs and seat are in contact with the horse. Two-point position is used most commonly by jumpers, but the three-point position may also be used by jumpers when the rider needs to use the seat as a driving aid when there is a chance of refusal or when there is a very tight turn.

Two point position. Be very careful in this position not to hang on your horse’s mouth!

Leg swinging back with heel up.

your leg to swing but also hinders your horse’s shoulder blade from free movement. This makes it difficult for him to bring up his front legs as much as he should.

TWISTING IN THE AIR Many riders turn their body in the air in anticipation of where they need to turn when they land, and whilst many do advocate for this option, most of the time it throws the horse out of balance

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altogether. This habit has also been shown to be damaging to your horse’s back, so rather, focus on taking off and landing straight in your body, and looking for where you want to go. You then turn on your first landing stride.

IMPROVING YOUR POSITION Gymnastics are a great way to practice your jumping position. Set up a simple line with two or three strides between fences so that you can

practice your body control at the base of the jump and on landing. If you’re lacking some inspiration try this: • Build three bounces, one stride to an upright, three strides to an oxer, and two strides to an upright. Build the oxer relatively wide so that you can test your ability to follow your horse's neck with your arms and also sit up quickly after a big fence.

• Over the bounces, maintain a light two-point seat and try not to do too much with your body.

• Sit in three-point position in the strides between the fences, but don’t sit against the movement of your horse.

• Focus on your upper body and lower leg control, and concentrate on staying balanced and light on your horse’s back.

• Avoid falling forward onto your horse’s neck, especially on landing from the oxer.

• Keep repeating this exercise, starting small and building it up to your competition height (but keep the bounces low).

NOTE: The distances selected between the fences here give you enough time to get your bum back in the saddle and in the perfect position before the next fence.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Putting in the work to perfect your jumping position is well worth the effort in the long run.

Get it right, and you’ll find those problematic poles become fewer and fewer in number.

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HORSE AND RIDER

THE SIMPLE CHANGE

Less ‘simple’ than it may seem

T

he simple change is a change of leg in canter through walk (i.e. canter-walkcanter).

This is a change of leg where the horse is brought back immediately into the walk, and after approximately one horse’s length (three to five clear walk steps), is restarted immediately into a canter with the other leg leading. The walk steps should be clearly demonstrated. A simple change is always through walk. If walk steps are not required, the movement is a ‘change of leg/lead through trot’ - not a simple change.

WHY IS THE SIMPLE CHANGE IMPORTANT? • It is a good test of the horse’s responsiveness and ability to adjust quickly to the rider’s requests.

• It tests how well the horse is moving through

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the back into the contact and helps to develop collection.

• The simple change is considered a prerequisite of the flying change. Once you have simple changes, you can begin to work on flying changes.

TEACHING AND PERFECTING THE SIMPLE CHANGE PREPARATORY EXERCISE ONE: COLLECTION ON A CIRCLE To perform a well-balanced transition from canter to walk, your horse must be able to collect within the canter. On a 20 metre circle, in working canter, collect for several strides, then ride forward to working canter, back to collection, and then forward again.

In this exercise, the rider’s aids and their

timing are very important when asking for collection. To achieve collection, you need to encourage more engagement of the hind legs with your seat, back and legs while softly receiving and containing the energy in front. The aids for collection should be given when you feel your seat swing forward in the canter stride, as this is when the horse’s hind legs are jumping under, and the forehand is elevating.

Practising in this way teaches your horse to take the weight back into the hindquarters by flexing the hocks, stifle and hip. As the horse develops strength, the collection can be held for a longer period of time, but initially, you just want to ask for a few strides and then push back into forwards again.

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HORSE AND RIDER

M

R

B

P

F

C

A

H

S

Points to note: • If your horse leans heavily into the reins, he is likely not taking the weight behind but instead leaning onto the forehand. This is a sign that you need to develop his strength further.

• You must make sure that you are collecting the canter, not simply slowing down. This means that you need to keep the activity of the hind legs and the jump and power while maintaining the clear three-beat rhythm.

PREPARATORY EXERCISE TWO: WALK TO CANTER AND CANTER TO WALK ON A 20 METRE CIRCLE Once you can achieve a few strides of collection, the horse is in a good balance to be asked to walk. At first, you may find that your horse throws in a couple of trot steps, but over time as strength in the hindquarters develops, the canter to walk should become more precise. It is not advised to focus heavily on a ‘prompt’ transition to walk in the early phases, as often this results in an abrupt stop on the forehand.

When asking for the walk to canter transition, the strides of the walk need to be shortened to keep the hind legs active. You should ask for the canter when the outside hind leg is on the ground or when the horse’s outside front leg is back. The horse must stay completely straight in his body. If he tends to swing his haunches in during the transition, you can use a few steps of leg yield away from the inside leg or ride the transition from shoulder-fore to keep

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E

V

the shoulders and hindquarters in alignment.

NOTE: Ensure you are not contributing to the swinging in of the haunches by using too much outside leg, or putting your leg back too far behind the girth.

PREPARATORY EXERCISE THREE: CHANGE OF LEAD ON A THREE-LOOP SERPENTINE In this exercise, the goal is to perform your canter walk transition several strides before the approaching centre line so that you have time to straighten and change the bend before asking for the new canter lead. It is important, at first, to take your time in the walk and to pay close attention to the quality of the walk and to establish a good connection from the new inside leg to the new outside rein before asking for the canter depart. In time, you should only need three to five walk steps before asking for the new canter lead.

PREPARATORY EXERCISE FOUR: SIMPLE CHANGE OF LEAD ON A STRAIGHT LINE For this exercise, you start on a 20 metre circle to the right at A in working canter. Once the canter is established, you ride out of the circle onto the long side. As you come through the corner between A and K, you begin to collect the canter stride and then walk near K. You subsequently shorten the strides in the walk, change the bend and ask for the left-lead canter (counter canter).

As you approach S you collect the canter and walk again. Near H, you ask for the right lead canter (true canter) and continue along the short

K

side. If a 20 metre circle is needed to regroup and organise the canter, it is best to take the time and do this. If not, proceed with the same exercise down the long side from M to F. To add to the challenge of this exercise, you could ride on the inside track or the quarter lines. This removes the support of the fence or wall, and means the horse needs to stay straight and even between your aids.

PREPARATORY EXERCISE FIVE: FIGURE 8 PATTERNS Some horses need the help of 10 metre circles to develop collection in preparation for a walk transition. To do this, start in the right lead canter at A. At V, ride a 10 metre half-circle right to L, and then a 10 metre half circle left from L to P, placing a simple change of lead on the centre line at L. Continue straight on the left lead canter and repeat the pattern from R to I and I to S placing the simple change on the centre line at S. The challenge with this exercise is straightness on the centre line.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE A simple change of lead is a preparatory exercise for flying lead changes. All these exercises and patterns introduce you and your horse to a variety of exercises that can and may be used to perfect your simple changes. Be sure to take your time and be patient. If problems arise like tension or a lack of throughness, you should go back to a simpler or earlier version of the exercise to re-establish the fundamentals.

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HORSE AND RIDER

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HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: RYAN TEHINI

IMPROVING THE

RIDER-HORSE BOND For better performance

T

he bond between horse and rider is something that need not be described to anyone who has had the privilege of spending extended periods of time around these magnificent animals. Their advanced understanding of human emotion has been the topic of much scientific inquiry, and the current understanding highlights the abundance of mirror neurons that horses are posited to possess (see HQ’s June 2021 Digital Edition for a deeper dive into this interesting neurobiological phenomenon).

In recent years, the bond between horse and human has been a topic of particular interest amongst the scientific community, owing largely to the increased use of equineassisted psychotherapy and sports psychology’s understanding of team sports and performance.

Riders generally consider their bond with their horse as a crucial component of their performance in the arena, but what does science have to say about this? What are the mechanics behind this bond? Does the training style of the

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rider impact the relationship? And if so, what training styles have proven most effective in improving the bond? These are the questions that this article sets out to explore, using the results of recent scientific examination.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE HUMAN-HORSE BOND In order to explore the relationship that humans have with their horses, scientists have used the psychological framework of attachment theory.

Attachment theory identifies four main features of attachment-related behaviour; these are: • Proximity seeking – Seeking to be near each other.

• Safe haven – Comfort and support provided by the person/animal will generally relieve stress and increase feelings of safety.

• Secure base – An increase in exploration behaviour (typically by the horse), due to a feeling of safety when near the person.

• Separation distress – A feeling of distress experienced in the person’s absence.

The use of this attachment theory allows for empirical exploration of whether or not humans experience a strong bond with their horse, and unsurprisingly – science has discovered that they do. The feeling of peace one experiences around horses, the general sense of safety in spite of their stature, and the compelling nature of the emotional responsiveness and curiosity affords a bonding experience second to none.

In fact, research has indicated that this bond develops abnormally quickly when horses are involved, which is illustrated in the benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy. The reduction of psychological tension when one is around these animals is instantaneous and universal, as it often occurs in people who have never spent time around them before. One of the main reasons humans bond so strongly with horses is because horses are prey animals, and, as such, have developed an extraordinary ability to communicate in a non-verbal manner because it was necessary for their survival (for more on this see HQ’s June 2021 Digital Edition).

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HORSE AND RIDER OUR EXPERT

Horses know ‘their human’.

While all of this was unsurprising, there are a number of interesting aspects of the horsehuman bond that are entirely unique to these animals. Firstly, unlike most companion-animal pets (such as dogs or cats), horses do not always live near their riders. This means that the way the bond is formed with a horse depends largely on the training style and how you interact with each other when you are together. Secondly, research has indicated that exposure to horses has reduced people’s heart rate, and subsequently, their stress. Interestingly, this stress reduction is far more pronounced in elite riders than it is in novice riders. Physiological readings illustrated that stress decreased for both the human and the horse when they were in close proximity to each other. Furthermore (and this is where it gets really interesting), the stress rate decreased more significantly for both the horse and rider when they were around their own horse, as opposed to just any horse, and this stress reduction was far more pronounced – in both the horse and rider – for the elite riders than for the novice riders. All of this illustrates a very strong, albeit complex, bond between horse and rider, and may even speak to the elevated levels of anxiety seen in novice riders and their horses compared to elite riders.

IMPROVING THE BOND The horse-human bond is a complex see-saw, on which teeters the outcome in the arena. As

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with any bond, the rider-horse relationship requires focused attention and intentional cultivation in order to grow and improve. The paradox of the riding relationship is that a lot of time spent together between horse and rider is tense and in training or competition; typically, leisure time between rider and horse is minimal and limited to the time surrounding training.

This kind of relationship promotes classical conditioning, in which the horse will always associate the rider with tense, performancebased situations. This increases the horse’s anxiety towards the relationship and will result in inhibited performance and the deterioration of the relationship over the long term – particularly if training is very outcome-focused. Imagine you only ever saw your spouse at training or competitions; over time, your mind starts to develop the association that spouse = competition/ training and before long, your anxiety will increase at the mere sight of them.

Subsequently, research has identified the importance of building a relationship with your horse outside of the tense environment of competing. Even though horses have been shown to enjoy the arena and competition, it is important that the training environment is enjoyable and conducive to learning – for both of you. There are two main ways in which this can be accomplished: firstly, always greet your horse, and bring them a treat - even if you have a hard day of training

Ryan Tehini (BA, BSocSci (Hons) Psych, MA Research Psychology (cum laude) (UP)). For Psychological Skills Training for sports’ competitions, please get in touch with me: ryantehini@ gmail.com, or 073 567 7387

ahead. Horses are incredibly astute at picking up human emotion, and a small change like this will mitigate the impact of classical conditioning.

Secondly, make sure to spend time with your horse that is not competition-focused; this can be as simple as hand-grazing or as elaborate as an outride for the day.

Another worthwhile consideration in the effort to improve your bond and enhance your performance is to provide for the mindset of your horse, as well as yourself. An anxious rider will be unable to perform optimally, and the same is true for the horse. In understanding our own emotional state, we better understand our horses and increase the bond between us. Ways in which this can be done include using psychological techniques to ensure you are not unnecessarily anxious while riding, as well as by using positive reinforcement for your horse. Numerous studies have shown that the training technique of positive reinforcement has strengthened the rider-horse bond and leads to enhanced performance in the arena. This can be accomplished by praising the horse for a good performance, as well as giving them treats, particularly after a tough training session.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE Horses are amazingly perceptive in their understanding of human emotions; they will pick up on the slightest change in our mental state and adapt their behaviour accordingly. This is why psychological training is such a vital aspect of equestrian sports; gaining control over your emotions allows the horse to feel calm around you – optimising both your performance and theirs. The bond between human and horse is the foundation on which everything in this sport is built; it is the basis for many a poor performance and equally as many spectacular ones. Subsequently, it deserves its own attention; the cultivation of a strong bond between rider and horse could likely mean that you both experience a substantially longer and more fruitful career.

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HORSE AND RIDER

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THE WONDERS OF WALK

The primary pace

W

alk is the foundational gait for all training and work we do with our horses, and yet many of us do not experience its full value. Here we look at some of the fundamentals of this pace and why we need to make it a priority in our sessions.

It is essential for the horse to walk freely on a long rein at the beginning of the warm-up of any riding session. Warming up is absolutely vital to avoid soundness issues. All the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments need adequate time to warm up, and the flow of joint fluid only occurs through movement. If you can walk outside of the arena, this is often a welcome change of scenery for your horse. Ten or 15 minutes on a long rein, encouraging the horse to stretch his neck down and his nose forward allows the back muscles to stretch and get loose progressively. During this phase, you can ask for some leg yield, ideally whilst maintaining the stretch down.

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After the warm-up, it’s a good idea that you start your schooling in walk before you commence any trot work. In walk, all faults are visible, and these faults often reflect the quality of your own riding rather than your horse's style. For example, if there are any issues with the contact or rhythm, these become abundantly clear in the walk. It is much easier to work on these issues in this slower gait than it is in a higher gait. Therefore, before moving on to the rest of your session, spend some time schooling the walk.

Finally, you will need to close out your session with plenty of walk. Don’t forget to do this!

Cool-down is incredibly important for horses and considerably reduces the risk of injury.

WHY IS WALKING SO GOOD FOR THE HORSE Walking is slow, and there is no moment of suspension. This means:

It’s a good idea to walk your horse around in-hand before mounting.

If you’re doing a session in the arena, walk at least two laps in both directions before getting on.

If you are going for a hack, walk the first and last kilometre.

• It is a low impact gait, so exercises can be practised in walk many more times compared to in the faster gaits.

• The joints, fascia, tendons and ligaments are loaded gradually in the walk. This is good for reducing the risk of injury, particularly with weak, tired and older horses, as well as those coming back from injury.

• There is time to think and react for both horse and rider in the walk, making it the best pace to learn a new skill.

• Compared to trot and canter, the walk is the gait that uses the most thoracolumbar rotation and lateral flexion – so it is great for mobilising the back. The larger the steps, the bigger the movement. Watch for the swing of the tail and symmetrical head and neck movement as an indicator of good back movement.

• There is less stretch and elastic recoil compared to the faster gaits. Instead, slow controlled

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TRAINING YOUNG HORSES IN WALK For young horses, all movements need to be introduced in the walk as this gives the opportunity to understand and perform the movements correctly. The young horse will have time to think and give the appropriate response to the aids. In the walk, it is also easier for the rider to be more precise with their aids and communication as you have more time to give your instructions. contractions are needed. This makes walk an excellent gait for enhancing the effects of strengthening exercises.

WHAT DOES A GOOD WALK LOOK LIKE? In dressage, there are various criteria for judging whether the walk is correct or not: • What judges are generally looking for is a horse that is travelling forward willingly without rushing.

• They then look at where the hooves are landing and if the horse is tracking up or over.

This involves observing how far over the print of the front hoof, the hind hoof steps. Ideally, you want the hind hoof at least on top of the print of the front hoof, but better still is two hoof lengths over. Some horses have even bigger walks, and the hind hoof lands a long way over the front hoof. These enormous walks can be challenging to train without losing rhythm.

• There should be a V-phase visible in the walk.

This means that the front and the hind leg form a V shape; a horse with a lateral walk will lack this.

• Judges are looking for freely moving shoulders, allowing the horse to maintain his

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natural balance by moving his neck up and down in time with the walk.

IMPROVING THE HORSE’S WALK First of all, you need to train your eye by watching other horses from the ground to try and see what goes well and what doesn’t. Once you’ve developed an eye for a good walk, take a look at the walk of your horse. If you are fortunate enough to have them, you can use mirrors, or you can ask someone to video you and your horse in the walk.

Suppose your horse’s basic walk is good, regular and steady. In that case, you can try introducing different exercises such as leg yield, lengthening or transitions to halt to see if you can maintain the quality during and between exercises.

If, on the other hand, your horse’s walk needs improvement, you should try to improve the basic walk before attempting any further exercises.

Always think about your aids: • Are your hands allowing your horse to move freely with the shoulders?

• Are you following your horse’s head up and down and allowing him to swing through his back?

• Are your hips following your horse’s movement?

Problems in the walk can be solved, but they take time, so be patient!

TYPICAL MISTAKES AND HOW TO CORRECT THEM • Some horses struggle to stay active in the walk, leading to the rider giving leg aids every single stride. It’s important for your horse to understand the aids and not get ‘used to them’ or simply learn to ignore them. If you feel you are pushing your

horse every stride, instead think about getting him more sensitive to the leg aids by giving fewer, clearer aids and allowing him chance to respond.

• For sensitive horses, too much leg can result in a rushed walk that the rider attempts to slow down by using their hands. These horses tend to take quick strides, lose their rhythm, hollow their backs, and the walk's regularity is not achieved.

In these instances, achieving relaxation and using less pressure from the aids is vital!

• Rigid or strong hands are another common fault that will restrict the movement of the horse and cause issues with regularity. It’s important not to try to get your horse ‘on the bit’ with your hands. A horse forced to ‘go round’ from the front cannot have a nice, steady contact to the bit, nor a correct frame, or swing through the back. This all affects his ability to walk correctly! Let your horse come to the contact, and follow the movement of his mouth with a soft but steady contact and, once again, be patient!

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE 1. Ride more walk and remember that it is part of training – not the boring bit you need to get out of the way before the fun stuff starts.

2. Don’t start trotting and cantering before the training is working in the walk.

THE BENEFITS OF CAVALETTIS Cavaletti training can help you to improve the regularity of the pace and encourage the activity of the hindquarters. It can also help to improve self-awareness, surefootedness and overall ability to maintain an active walk.

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Downward facing dog

TEXT: SKYE LITTLEFIELD

For horse riders

H

umans are built to move, but as horse riders, we’re taught to look as still as possible on the backs of horses from the moment we learn to ride. I want you to imagine you’re practising sitting trot on your horse; with each step your horse takes, your body moves in the saddle, but your hips and lower back absorb the impact, your ankles and calves flex to maintain optimal leg position and communicate the next move to your horse, and your hands stay floating

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above the withers, soft and supple. Your body is anything but still on horseback, and it takes a lot of physical strength to maintain the illusion of stillness.

In comparison, we teach our horses to move with flair, demonstrating strength and skill through halts and extended canters. The power needed to jump, pirouette, or piaffe is exceptional, so it’s only fair that we maintain adequate fitness as horse riders to complete the partnership and create the ‘perfect’ picture.

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Moving your body is one of the best ways to train yourself to remain stable on horseback, and yoga is almost the perfect discipline to help you build the necessary muscle and balance. It gives your body flexibility and suppleness, strength, and a greater range of motion that will make sitting with your horse’s extravagant movements much easier.

Cat pose

LESSEN LOWER BACK PAIN AND IMPROVE YOUR RHYTHM Lower back pain is something that I hear a lot of horse riders complain about. When we think about it, the lower torso is responsible for absorbing impact and transferring this energy to the rest of the body whilst riding. Having a supple back allows your horse to make fluid movements underneath you, and fortunately, it can be improved both in and out of the saddle.

There are two yoga poses that I have found beneficial for eliminating lower back pain and increasing flexibility, and they can be practised by themselves or within a sequence.

Cow pose

The first is the cat and cow stretch.

This gentle bend stretches the muscles throughout the neck, shoulders, and back and mobilises the spine. Start by bending slowly and let your body tell you when it is ready for a deeper stretch, and remember only to go as far as you feel comfortable.

1. Get on all fours on a yoga mat with your wrists underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips.

2. Take a deep breath as you lift your chin to the sky, letting your stomach and lower back drop towards the ground.

3. Breathe out as you tuck your chin into your chest, following the movement and pushing your spine and belly up towards the sky.

4. Continue these movements as fluidly as possible for a few minutes, and you’ll feel your body stretching slightly more with each bend.

The second is downward facing dog.

This pose looks easier than it is, and I challenge you to hold it for a little longer each time you try it.

1. Get into the all-fours position from the catcow pose, with your toes tucked under.

2. Push into your hands, lift your knees, and push your sitting bones to the sky.

3. Keep a slight bend in your knees to allow you to lengthen your spine.

4. Push your heels towards the ground and your shoulders away from your head. You can tuck your chin slightly.

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5. Focus on maintaining even weight distribution on both sides of your body while holding this pose.

6. Hold this pose for as long as possible, then drop back down to all fours. Repeat downward dog a few times, and you’ll feel your body loosening up.

LOOSEN YOUR HIPS TO DEEPEN YOUR SEAT Tight hips prevent us from moving efficiently in the saddle and, in turn, block your horse’s movement, preventing the expression we ask for.

If you experience hip pain due to tightness, it’s common to tighten the upper thighs and glutes, causing you to perch forward unintentionally.

The low lunge is a stretch that will help open your hip joints and is gentle enough to do every day.

1. Start on your knees and extend one foot forward so that the knee is stacked above the ankle.

2. Your other knee remains behind you, with the shin and top of your foot resting on the ground.

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HORSE AND RIDER

Low lunge

Boat pose

injury, and gives you the distinct advantage of great balance, especially on horseback.

3. U sing your core, lift your torso towards the sky. If you have the strength and stretch in your back, extend your arms above your and touch your hands together if possible.

4. I f this pose is comfortable, hold it for 30 seconds before coming back to centre and practising the pose on the other side.

5. I f you feel you have more space to stretch, you can tuck the toes of your back foot under and

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lift your knee and thigh off of the ground.

This is a test for your flexibility, strength, and balance.

STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE TO IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE With a strong core, you can conquer the world.

I’m serious. Having a strong core makes it easier to do most physical activities, helps to prevent

One of the toughest but most rewarding yoga poses to build a strong core is the boat pose. This innocuous-looking posture is an absolute ab cruncher and requires intense mental focus to hold.

1. Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you.

2. Lean back slightly, rolling your bum under while maintaining a straight back. You can use your hands to balance the first few times to practise this posture.

3. Bend your knees slightly and balance your weight between your sitting bones and tailbone. Slowly begin to lift your feet off of the floor, activating your core to maintain balance.

4. A s you lift your legs, stretch your arms out in front of you, aligning them with your raised calves. If you have the strength, slowly straighten your legs, stretching them towards the sky. If viewed from the side, your body will look like a boat, hence the name.

5. Hold this pose for approximately 30 seconds, and then slowly release your body down to the floor for a rest. Repeat as many times as possible, but be warned that you’ll feel the burn the following day.

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HORSE AND RIDER

FEELING THE BURN Helping your horse to burn calories through exercise

J

ust as with humans, the harder your horse works, the more energy he uses. Yet, there is no easy way to count calories in horses and know exactly what they are burning when exercising. This makes it tricky to accurately assess calorie use, but there are still plenty of ways that you can get your horse working harder to encourage weight loss.

FACTORS IMPACTING ENERGY EXPENDITURE • Duration: The longer your horse is exercising, the more calories are burned.

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• Surfaces: Softer surfaces are harder work for your horse and therefore burn more calories than firmer surfaces.

• Gradient: The least amount of energy is used on a slightly downhill slope. Uphill work can significantly increase energy consumption. For example, a 10% incline is over twice as hard for the horse as working at the same speed on the flat.

• Rider weight: Exercising with a rider is harder work than without. A heavier rider requires the horse to use more energy still. Although putting on weight to help your horse to lose weight may not be a good option…

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• Weather: Exercising in hotter weather causes your horse to burn more calories.

• Direction: Turning uses more energy than working straight lines. The tighter the turn, the more calories are used.

• Pace: Varying the pace/speed (i.e. speeding up and slowing down) uses more energy than exercising at a constant speed.

• Transitions: Transitions between gaits use more energy than staying within a gait.

• Gait: The best way to burn calories is to use a combination of trot and canter. Per minute of exercise, trotting uses 2.3 times as much energy as walking, and slow cantering uses up to twice as much energy per minute as trotting.

• Within a gait: Each horse has a speed within each gait where he’s at his most efficient i.e. he uses the least amount of energy. A slow or fast walk or a slow or fast trot use up the most energy compared to a walk or trot in the middle of a horse’s speed range in each gait.

• Circles: The smaller the circle your horse works on, the higher the energy requirement.

However, one must be careful not to go beyond a horse’s training levels in terms of circle size, as this will increase the risk of injury.

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A KEY RULE An important rule when looking to increase energy expenditure and improve fitness over time is to increase the speed (effort) of the workouts, the duration of the workouts, or the number of workouts per week, but NEVER more than one of these at a time. For example, in the first few weeks, you could do a 30-minute hack five times a week, then increase to a 45-minute hack five times a week, and then a 45-minute hack five times a week but at a faster pace, and so on.

HEART RATE The most reliable way to know how hard your horse is working so that you avoid working him too hard is to use a heart rate monitor. The harder he’s working, the higher his heart rate will be. So, if your horse appears to be flagging, but his heart rate is only 120 beats per minute (bpm), then you know he’s probably not putting in too much effort!

On the other hand, if his heart rate is 200bpm, you are likely working him too hard for a weight loss

programme. Ideally, to achieve weight loss, you want to be working for prolonged periods in the 120-160bpm range.

A heart rate monitor can also guide you as to when to stop exercising. If you’ve been out hacking for 40 minutes and you stop, if your horse’s heart rate isn’t back down below 100bpm within two minutes, then he’s done enough for that session, and it’s time to take him home.

IMPORTANT NOTE If your horse is overweight or unfit, you must not just suddenly get on and start working him hard. An overweight horse’s joints, tendons and ligaments are already under increased stress due to his excess weight.

The weight of a rider and hard work could easily lead to injury. Similarly, an unfit horse being brought back into work too swiftly or too intensely is at risk of injury. In these horses, lungeing and walking-in-hand make good starting points. Riding work at walk and trot can then be introduced slowly, and the amount of ridden and lunge work each day can be gradually increased.

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FOCUS

FISH-SKIN DRESSING Wounds on horses' legs are often slow to heal, susceptible to contamination and prone to the development of ‘proud flesh’ (excessive granulation tissue) and other complications. However, a new biological dressing derived from fish skin shows promise for treating these tricky leg wounds.

Researchers at Assiut University in Egypt have been experimenting with wound dressings made using skin from the Nile tilapia fish, native to Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Tilapia skin has a high collagen content and has been used to speed the healing of human wounds and reduce associated pain.

In the study, half of the equids had sterilized fish skin applied to the wound, and the other half had standard surgical gauze applied. For three weeks, the researchers examined the wounds regularly, documenting healing progress and taking bacterial cultures.

According to the researchers, the wounds covered with fish skin had minimal bacterial activity, while those in the control group showed increasing bacterial counts as the trial progressed. In addition, the treated wounds were significantly smaller than the control wounds at the end of the three-week observation period.

The researchers conclude from this initial study that the fish-skin dressing helps to keep the wound bed moist, enhancing healing by encouraging skin-cell migration across the wound surface. They call for further trials to determine whether these dressings are a viable treatment for such wounds.

Reference: “Evaluation of fish skin as a biological dressing for metacarpal wounds in donkeys.”

BMC Veterinary Research, December 2020.

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FOCUSING ON FITNESS A new year’s resolution

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orses must be adequately prepared for the type of work they will be expected to perform. If a horse is not fit enough, there is a much greater risk of injury. Usually, you will be working on improving your horse’s fitness rather than starting from scratch, as most horses in work will have a level of fitness that has been developed through the work they have been doing to date. However, it is still important that you know the process of getting a horse who has been out of work fit and understand the importance of each stage of the fitness programme. Each horse is an individual and will require a particular fitness programme tailored to his specific needs. The amount and type of work a horse will require can depend on a number of factors, including body condition, breed or type, health status and the horse’s age and experience. Throughout any fitness programme – and afterwards, when

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looking to maintain fitness – the horse should be monitored to ensure that he is coping with the work and improving his fitness.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR A HORSE WHO HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK If a horse has been out of work, there are a few things you should consider before bringing him back into work. These include: • Soundness: Before starting work, the horse should be trotted up to check that he is sound. If you are unsure, always get a second opinion from someone knowledgeable at your yard or your vet.

• Tack: If the horse has been out of work, he may have put on weight or lost muscle tone. As a result, the tack may not fit as well as it did previously. Tack should be checked, ideally by a saddle fitter, to ensure that it is still comfortable for the horse to work in.

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IMPORTANT FACTORS WHEN DESIGNING A PROGRAMME Type of horse: Horses who can comfortably canter at the required speed and duration for the competition they are entering will require less fitness preparation than others. Thoroughbred horses are naturally more athletic and usually fall into this category. However, Warmbloods and heavier horses are likely to exert themselves more when cantering at the speed needed for competition, so they need more conditioning and work to prepare them.

Age/Experience: A horse who has been fit before will gain fitness slightly faster than a younger horse who has not been fit before.

Previous injury: If a horse has been off work because of injury, he may need a specialist programme for recovery to be able to return to work. In this situation, advice should be sought from a vet. Particular care should be taken when exercising horses on deep surfaces if they have had a muscle, tendon or ligament injury and on hard surfaces, if they have had a bone or joint injury.

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Body condition: Horses who are underweight or overweight will need a fitness programme designed alongside a diet plan. If a horse is underweight, he should be given sufficient time to gain weight before being brought into work.

If a horse is slightly underweight and begins work, the work should be light until he gains the required amount of weight. In the case of an overweight horse, extra time should be allowed within a programme to improve fitness. An overweight horse will need to start with lowintensity work and spend longer in this type of work to prevent overstressing his body. A horse carrying extra weight will have more strain on his joints and tendons, so the priority is to get the weight down first.

Facilities: Dependent on the facilities available to you, if the ground becomes very hard or it is very wet, and becomes slippery, and you are unable to do canter work, you may need to use alternative methods of working towards fitness.

In such a situation, some canter work can be replaced by hill work; working up hills increases

the intensity of the work without the need to increase the speed.

FITNESS PROGRAMME Horses are ‘flight’ animals and so have an inbuilt instinct to flee from danger; this means even an unfit horse will have a reasonable capacity for short sprint exercise. However, the aim of the fitness programme is to condition a horse for the work he is required to do so he can perform at his best and reduce the risk of injury.

Basically, don’t be fooled into thinking your horse is fit because he can get away from the plastic bag in the bushes - proper fitness takes time to acquire!

During a fitness programme, work will need to be increased gradually over time. If the work is stepped up too quickly, there is a greater risk of injury.

The principle of a fitness programme is to gradually increase a horse’s workload by increasing the duration and then the intensity of the work – but not both together. The horse’s

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Work on varied terrain is super beneficial for your horse’s fitness development – if you’re lucky enough to have a beach nearby, take a stroll in the sand!

Discipline specific work is only introduced after long slow distance work to reduce the risk of injuries.

TAPERING Tapering refers to a method whereby the horse’s workload is reduced before a competition, usually in the week before. This allows the horse’s muscles to recover from the stress of training and maximises the horse’s energy stores. Tapering is carried out by gradually reducing the duration (time) a horse trains for each day but keeping the intensity of the work the same.

body will adapt in response to the type of work he is asked to do – however, the work needs to be repeated for these adaptations to occur. The same type of work should be repeated during exercise sessions and then increased on a twoweekly basis. Horses in competition should ideally be worked five or six days per week, which is adequate for improving fitness. Working horses only at the weekend is unfortunately not going to have a big impact on fitness.

STAGES A fitness programme can be split into three separate stages: 1. Long slow distance work – low-intensity work built up gradually in duration 2. Strength work – work to improve strength and stamina and basic fitness 3. Fast work – work to prepare the horse for competition

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LONG SLOW DISTANCE WORK If a horse has been out of work, the first part of his fitness programme will be long slow distance work. This is low-intensity exercise, consisting of walking initially, with the duration of the work being gradually increased before introducing periods of trotting. Although low-intensity, this type of work will begin to condition the muscles and cardiovascular system of a horse who has been out of work. The first part of a programme would usually consist of around three weeks of this type of work. A horse who has been out of work would usually start with 30 minutes of walking on a level surface for approximately two weeks, with the duration increasing towards the end of the second week. From there, you advance as and when you feel your horse is ready.

It can also be useful to introduce a variety of surfaces in this early part of the programme.

Ideally, you want to try and do around 5 minutes on a hard surface as this concussive force is beneficial to bone strength. However, the amount of trotting on a hard surface should certainly be limited. Previously, it was thought that work on hard surfaces toughened up tendons and ligaments, but there is actually no evidence for this. Aside from hard surfaces, try and get your horse walking on grass and in the arena. This will begin to prepare your horse for the work later in the programme on these types of surfaces. As this is low-intensity work, the horse may work up to seven days a week.

To summarise, this stage would consist of: • WEEK 1: 30 minutes of walking on a level surface • WEEK 2: 30-50 minutes of walking on a level surface • WEEK 3: 1 hour of walking, which may include some hills; may introduce short periods of trot on a level surface (ideally not a hard surface).

NOTE: Whilst ‘hacking’ per se won’t help to improve fitness after this initial phase, it should be kept part of the training regime as it is great for providing variety in the work programme and is good for the horse’s mental well-being. No horse should be worked in an arena seven days a week!

The more work you can do outside the arena the better for your horse’s mental well-being.

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FAST WORK

The type of canter work you choose to do depends on the facilities available to you.

STRENGTH WORK In this stage, the intensity of the work will be increased. This type of work will begin to build the horse’s muscles and condition his cardiovascular system. The long slow distance work will continue but will be cut back to fewer sessions each week.

Specific skill training sessions will be introduced; these will be geared towards the discipline in which the horse will compete. Lungeing may also be introduced. As an example, a weekly programme may include two to three hacking sessions, two schooling sessions and a lungeing session. As the work intensity is now being increased, it is very important to include sufficient warming up and cooling down during these sessions.

Again, any new type of work should be introduced gradually. The horse should gradually start doing more and more in the arena. If the horse has not done any work in the school up to this point, consideration should be given to the change in surface. If the arena surface is softer or deeper than what he has previously been ridden in this will be harder work for him, and this must be taken into account. Initial work should start in walk and trot using large circles. School work can be increased to include lateral work and some basic pole work and jumping towards the end of the sixth week.

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Hill work may be introduced within hacking sessions, remembering that trotting up a hill may be as hard as cantering on the flat. Working up hills develops the horse’s hindquarter muscles.

When going downhill, the horse will need to use the muscles in his forehand around the shoulders and muscles in his hindquarters, which will have to work against gravity to help him to balance.

Working uphill and downhill is particularly important for event and endurance horses, as they will have to canter up and down hills at some points during competition.

In summary, this stage would consist of: • WEEK 4: Hacking time may increase to 1.25 hours and include some trotting and short canters on the flat. Start to introduce some schooling sessions for up to 30 minutes, to include basic school exercises, keeping circles large.

• WEEK 5: Hacking time may increase to 1.5 hours and include some trotting up hills; schooling work will continue.

• WEEK 6: Schooling time may increase to 40 minutes. Pole work and then jumping may be introduced. Continue with hacking to include work up and down hills, and the amount of canter can be increased.

The inclusion of fast work in a fitness programme is only required for horses who are required to canter flat out in a competition. Horses competing in dressage and showjumping can usually continue with work specific to their discipline to further develop their skill and ability to perform at the given level without focusing too much on fast work. Many horses competing in lowerlevel competitions will be sufficiently fit to do so through the canter work included while hacking and may not require additional specific canter work. However, others competing particularly at higher levels in showjumping and dressage may have some specific canter work included in their programme to help improve their general fitness.

For horses needing fast work, the horse’s skill training (school work) will continue, as well as some low-intensity work. The horse is likely to be working five or six days per week, with two or three days of cantering (which may be incorporated in hacks) spaced equally throughout the week during the training period and two days of schooling. On the other days, the horse may be lunged or do a low-intensity hack.

Two main methods can be used when doing canter work; you can either use continuous canters or interval training. For either method, the fitness level required will be dependent on the level at which the horse will be competing.

Continuous canters: When using continuous canters, you carry out canter work both of longer duration, but slower speed, and of shorter duration and higher speed than your horse will be required to do in competition.

Interval training: This is a method whereby your canter for a set number of minutes, then the horse rests so is allowed to partially recover before cantering again. You would usually have three canters of a set duration, with 2-3 minute rest breaks in between. There is plenty of flexibility in how interval training is carried out, and programmes can vary by increasing speed, distance, duration, number of repetitions, or decreasing the rest period's duration.

NOTE: Whatever method is chosen, increases in work should be gradual, and increases in distance or duration should be made before increasing the speed of the canter.

Both methods are suitable for improving a horse’s fitness. The choice as to which to use is down to personal preference, the temperament of the horse and the facilities available. For instance, interval training will be best if you don’t have an area where you can canter for longer distances.

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Consistency is key in maintaining fitness and soundness, so finding friends to train with can help keep the motivation up!

HEART RATE MONITORS Heart rate monitors can also be used to monitor fitness. They can provide readings to show how quickly a horse recovers after work and how hard the horse is working during a session. The higher the heart rate, the harder the horse is working. As a horse becomes fitter, you should notice that his heart rate is lower than previous readings while doing the same type of work. Also, as a horse becomes fitter, his heart rate will drop more quickly after the same type of work than when he was less fit. The best time to assess heart rate recovery is 1 minute after exercise.

NOTE: Some people believe that interval training reduces the risk of injury to the horse, as he takes breaks for recovery, whereas during continuous canters, he is likely to experience fatigue to a greater extent. However, there is no specific evidence to prove this.

In summary, this stage would consist of: • WEEK 7: Build up the length of time cantering on hacks and introduce some canter uphill or sessions for canter work (continuous or interval training).

• WEEK 8-9: Continue with work in the school and during canter work include some faster work (forward canter or controlled gallop).

ASSESSING FITNESS When executing your fitness plan, it is important to assess how the horse is coping with the work, as this provides a baseline for comparison later in the

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programme and ensures that the work does not overly stress the horse. Observations should include: • The horse should perform well during training sessions and find the work easier to perform as training progresses – you may notice that the horse starts to take more of a hold when cantering.

• After work, specifically cantering, the horse should stop blowing after approximately two minutes (although in hot weather, this can be a little longer).

• After a training session, when the horse has been cooled down, he should return to a resting breathing rate and heart rate and show normal behaviour, for example, eating hay and drinking normally.

• The horse should not dramatically lose or gain weight during the programme.

MAINTAINING FITNESS AND SOUNDNESS Throughout the fitness programme, the horse should be monitored to ensure that he is on track to be fit enough for the competition date, using both general performance and recovery rates as indicators. The other essential factors are then maintaining fitness and soundness.

Once a horse is fit for the work he is doing, he will maintain fitness with a steady or even slightly reduced level of work and will not require the work to be increased or maintained

as it was during the fitness programme. As horses maintain fitness very well, the level of work can even be reduced by approximately 20-30%. The week before the competition, the horse may have his work reduced according to the tapering process mentioned earlier.

Mature horses competing at the top level are often only brought to peak fitness on the lead up to competition, and, after the competition, they may be let down and then kept ticking over at a lower level of fitness. This reduces the risk of injury to the horse and reduces the risk of the horse becoming sour and losing interest in the work. Younger horses may be kept in work to continue developing and improving the skills required for competition.

NOTE: Exercise plans should always include various types of work; this helps to maintain soundness and prevent the horse from becoming bored.

FINAL THOUGHTS The biggest part of running a successful fitness programme for your horse is planning. Whilst you cannot be entirely rigid as the programme will need to adapt to suit your horse's needs and their rate of progress, having a structure in mind is essential. You need to avoid haphazard preparation at all costs, as this is NEVER as successful or beneficial as a thought-through and well-executed regime.

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Body talk Understanding body language

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orses might not speak, but we can learn to understand what they are telling us through their behaviour and body language. As a prey species that evolved to live in social groups, using sound to interact with one another could have put the entire herd at risk of being noticed by a predator. As a result, horses developed a range of sophisticated body language signals and behaviours to communicate with each other silently and safely. Of course, horses do sometimes use vocalisation, but their primary method of communication is through body language.

Equine ethologists have spent decades observing horses in their natural environment. Although we still have a long way to go before we fully understand how they interact and perceive the world, we do have a good understanding of how they communicate with each other.

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THE WHOLE PICTURE Learning to understand equine body language involves combining several pieces of information, but first, it’s important to understand the overall picture.

HORSES USE THEIR WHOLE BODIES TO COMMUNICATE Horses can convey messages via several movements or postures, so body language signals can only be interpreted correctly when the body is seen as a whole. For example, facial expressions may be supported by the position or movements in the rest of the body. The position of the head and neck, hindquarters and tail are of particular importance, as is overall stance. If your horse has his ears back, for example, he may either by listening behind him or threatening to kick or bite. The position of his head and neck – high

and alert when listening, or low and extended towards the threat when aggressive – can help us to understand what he is saying.

IT IS ALL CONTEXT-SPECIFIC How a horse behaves can mean different things in different situations, so it’s vital to look at the context in which a behaviour occurs when trying to interpret it.

BODY LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR DIFFER BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS While certain generalisations can be made, not all horses respond the same way to events in the environment. Some are extraordinarily stoic and may be much more frightened and stressed than their body language implies. This is particularly true for cold-blooded breeds like cobs and Percherons, who are much more likely to freeze

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H When horses greet each other they take in lots of information about the other horse’s body language.

when scared than spook or run away. On the other hand, more hotblooded breeds like Arabs and Thoroughbreds may be very reactive and expressive in their behaviour and body language if they are anxious.

BREAKING IT DOWN As already mentioned, you cannot consider one element of the body alone when assessing body language. The information must be gleaned from all of these different areas and put together to form an overall picture. Nonetheless, one needs to assess all of the elements individually to draw this overall conclusion. Here we run through the key areas that signify a horse’s state and mood:

HEAD AND NECK The position of the head and neck can tell you a lot about your horse’s emotional status.

• Lowered – A lowered head can be a sign that your horse is relaxed, resting, in pain or even depressed. Taking his overall body posture into account can help you to differentiate between these emotional states.

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• Raised – If your horse raises his head, he may be focusing on something in the distance and deciding whether to flee, ignore or investigate. If he raises his head while being ridden, this could be an early sign of pain or discomfort. Other indicators of pain in this scenario could be if he hollows his back, puts his ears back, shakes his head or swishes his tail.

If any of these behaviours are present, you should contact your vet and consider having your tack, mainly your saddle, assessed by a qualified saddle fitter.

• Arched - Horses usually arch their necks in response to a threat, when meeting another horse or when investigating something new.

• Head tossing – This indicates that a horse may be frustrated, irritated or in pain. He may grind his teeth, toss or fling his head, open his mouth, or lift his head to avoid a rider’s hands or bit when being ridden. There is usually an overall stiffness and tenseness in the body. Again, in these instances, it is worth having a saddle fitter look at your tack and perhaps speaking to your vet.

• Head turned away – If your horse turns his head away when you approach, this is an indicator

that he’s worried about you or what you’re about to do. Horses will often turn their head away when their owners arrive with tack, as they are anticipating the stressful event that is about to occur.

• Stallions bow their heads when they meet one another and ‘snake’ their necks when herding members of their bands.

TAIL What a horse does with his tail is often ignored or simply blamed on flies, but it can be a great indicator of emotional state.

• Raised – A tail raised straight up is a sign of excitement. It is often seen when horses are playing or when something has captured the horse’s attention.

• Slow swishing – The slow swish of a tail is usually to get rid of flies, but it can also signify that a horse is becoming colicky. Tail swishing when under saddle can be a sign of anxiety or discomfort.

• Swishing rapidly – When a horse’s tail swishes quickly from side to side or up and down, he’s

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irritated, in pain or feeling aggressive. This is likely to be a warning sign that he’s about to kick, buck, bite or chop.

• Clamped down – A fearful or anxious horse will clamp his tail down tightly and may also lower his hindquarters in preparation for getting away. If your horse clamps down his tail during ridden work, he may be fearful or in pain, so you need to assess the situation. It could be that you simply asked too much and frightened him, or it could be that he is in pain. If you suspect pain, then you again need to speak to your vet or saddle fitter. If you think you over faced him, just take a step back and gradually build-up to the challenge.

• Held to one side – A tail held to one side can be a sign of back pain. Ask your vet to check your horse over for any physical issues.

A raised tail is a sign of excitement.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS We can learn a lot about how a horse is feeling from the level of tension in his face. Some horses are always a little anxious around people, so watch your horse when he’s sleeping or dozing to see what his face looks like when he is completely relaxed. When anxious, scared, angry or in pain, we see the facial muscles tense and become tight, especially around the chin and cheeks. Blood vessels may also become more pronounced.

Eyes A horse’s eye is the largest of any land mammal, and vision is believed to be the horse’s main sense. Horses have a vast field of vision but cannot see directly in front or behind themselves. It’s important to remember that the position of the horse’s head can enhance or impair his vision. The eyes tell us a great deal about a horse’s emotional state: • A tired horse may have limited eye movement and a dull, vacant expression.

• A nervous horse in a new environment may have extremely expressive eyes that move quickly to take in the environment. When a horse starts to become nervous, the muscles in the brow area contract, causing the upper eyelid to change shape and the eye to appear more triangular.

Wrinkles form above the eye, and research has demonstrated that the number and depth of the wrinkles is a good indicator of how stressed a horse is. A horse who is constantly under stress may have numerous deep wrinkles on his upper eyelid as his eyes are continually maintaining the triangular shape.

• The eye is also one of the first indicators that a horse is afraid. Not only does the shape of the eye change when a horse is frightened, but the sclera (the white of the eye) also starts to show.

NOTE: The sclera is always visible in some horses, especially in coloured horses and ponies with lots

GENDER DIFFERENCES Mares and stallions have different postural displays in certain situations (especially with regards to sexual behaviours), but generally speaking, their body language is similar.

When stallions are gelded, it often makes their body language less expressive. of white on their faces, so this is not a universal sign of anxiety.

• Finally, a horse who isn’t blinking could be frozen in fear just about to explode, whereas a dull stare with no blinking, could be an expression of depression, illness or discomfort.

Ears The position and movement of the ears are a great indicator of where a horse’s attention is directed.

They can also signal levels of arousal and mood.

Pricked ears suggest the horse is directing attention and listening to something in front of him.

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• Ears pricked forwards suggest the horse is directing attention and listening in front of him.

Once he has satisfied his curiosity, his ears should quickly relax.

• If something behind your horse catches their attention, he may split his focus and turn one ear backwards to listen out for anything interesting.

• Ears turned to the side could mean that your horse is paying attention to something beside him or, if they’re dropping to the side, it could indicate relaxation, drowsiness or pain.

• Ears turned backwards mean that your horse’s attention is focused behind him, while ears pinned back indicate aggression or fear. How flattened they are is an excellent indicator of the severity of the threat.

• You’ll often find a horse splits his attention by flicking his ears back and forth while being ridden – listening both to the rider and being aware of what is in front of him.

horse’s ears are back at the same time, this is a clear sign of aggression.

• If your horse bares his teeth or his mouth gapes while he’s being ridden, he may be anxious, trying to avoid the bit or in pain. Get his teeth examined by an equine dentist and check the fit of his bridle and bit.

• A saggy bottom lip suggests that your horse is relaxed or drowsy. However, a horse in severe pain may also have a relaxed mouth and droopy lower lip, yet in this instance, you would most likely see flared nostrils and tension in the rest of the face.

• The mouth or muzzle can become tight, pinched or pursed when the horse is stressed or in pain.

• The flehmen response helps your horse to analyse an interesting smell. However, it can also be seen when horses are about to colic or when they are suffering from abdominal pain.

Nose Mouth The mouth can indicate a number of emotional states – worry, fear, confusion and even mild aggression.

• An open mouth with visible teeth can mean different things depending on the context. If your

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The nose and nostrils can also give away a lot of information about emotional state: • Flared nostrils are a sign of arousal – whether in excitement (such as play), fear, or when startled, but also on meeting a new horse or investigating a new stimulus or environment.

A saggy bottom lip is usually a slign of relaxation or drowsiness.

• The nostrils may narrow and elongate with wrinkles appearing behind them indicating annoyance, irritation or an aggressive threat.

• A long elongated nose usually indicates tension and can often be seen in ridden horses, but it’s also visible when your horse is reaching for something or when you are scratching his itchy spot.

SUMMARY The best way to learn about your horse’s body language is to watch him as often as you can.

Notice how he reacts when he’s in the field with his friends, when he’s taken to a new environment, when he’s drowsy, with the farrier or vet, or when other people are around him. Watch his facial expressions and body language, notice his overall posture and how he reacts in different situations.

Learning to recognise early changes in your horse’s body language and behaviour can help you to see when he is anxious, frustrated or even sore. This puts you in a better position to avoid potentially dangerous situations and avoid escalating behavioural problems.

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TEXT: SKYE LITTLEFIELD

Building Trust With Your Horse

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How in-hand confidence teaches self-management

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orses are herd animals, and we know that they rely on their herd to alert them of potential dangers, especially when they themselves are not paying full attention to a situation. Alongside this, they are flight animals, meaning that they’d choose to run rather than to fight, and their powerful bodies are built for just this. Because of these attributes, we often refer to our horses as spooky, when in actual fact, our horses are being cautious. We complain that we can’t ride out alone because our horses are too much of a handful. We complain that our horses won’t jump the deep, dark ditch. And, we complain that our horses won’t walk past what we think is “just a dustbin” without showing a fearful reaction. What we ask of our horses are generally not things that they’re accustomed to or built to do, and their reactions are governed by self-preservation.

SELF-MANAGEMENT That being said, a horse can learn better selfmanagement, in the same way that we as humans can learn to keep calm in tense situations. This is

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where patience and trust come into play. Trust is foundational in a horse-human relationship, and for me it cannot be built only from horseback. If we expect our horses to trust us, then we need to show them that we love them and that we’ll protect them from danger, including the ferocious peacock next door. A horse who trusts you will walk over anything you ask, cross deadly puddles, and calmly plod past that suspicious-looking pile of dustbin bags on the pavement.

ACCEPTING REALITY AND WORKING WITH IT Depending on where you ride, you’re often faced with potentially-spooky obstacles such as dogs, people, and cars; regardless of what you’re approaching, you want to feel assured that your horse will approach the situation calmly and selfmanage the assessment of the potential dangers before reacting.

I’ve got a 14 hand Connemara mare who -when I got her- had not left the yard in years, and had not done much work at home either. Needless to say, she was very cautious, nervous about most

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HORSE AND RIDER

Developing trust with your horse will help your relationship go from strength to strength.

things, and quick to spin and bolt when she got a fright. Her spooks were huge; she would rear out of fear and confusion, and once she’d been worked up, it was impossible to get her to calm down for hours. This was not only dangerous to both of us, but it also felt exceptionally unfair to her, and I knew I needed to give her the tools to better cope with these situations. This timing coincided with a friend of mine getting her 5 year old, freshlygelded Warmblood, who grew up on a farm and wasn’t sure how to get his feet over painted road lines. He still showed some pushy stallion traits, and being near 18 hands, he was a lot to deal with.

Two things we’ve always had in common as friends are the beliefs that our horses need frequent outrides and that you should get off of your horse if either of you are nervous. I know this seems counterintuitive to what you’ve been told, but I promise you it works. At the beginning of our journey together, we were stabled in an area with high traffic volumes, constant construction, and many dogs, donkeys, and ostriches. We’d often have to contend with cars shooting past at top speed, construction vehicles digging and dumping, and loose animals getting a little too close for comfort.

We set off on our first few outrides, not really knowing what to expect but quickly learning how to make them safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

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THE LEARNINGS One of the first things I noticed was that our horses would show much less hesitation approaching a scary object if we were beside them, not on top of them. If you’re nervous, your horse is nervous, and so continues the cycle so getting off really is a good option! For months, our rides consisted of hopping off, leading, and hopping back on. If you assess the situation, you’ll realise that your horse has entered self-preservation mode, not seeing anything besides the dangerous object and the space between until you step in alongside them. It seems so obvious, but you’ve immediately become a barrier for danger, and so your horse becomes less concerned about what they think is going to eat them. And, saving your horse from perceived danger gets you an extra notch on the trust belt. I’m inviting you to show your horse that you’ll protect them by leading them past scary things in-hand, helping them to build the knowledge that most worldly things do not pose a danger to them.

The next thing that became obvious was the value of patience, reassurance and praise. Our horses reacted much less explosively if we gave them what they needed to assess the unknown situation and showed them that they did well.

Something that I’ve adopted is ‘don’t push and don’t punish.’ Don’t force your horse past the scary situation until they’re ready, and if they do spook,

don’t punish them for demonstrating instinct. If your horse wants to stand snorting at the weird bush for 10 minutes, then let them, all the while talking to and scratching them, reassuring them that they’re fine. When your horse is ready, they’ll walk on as if nothing happened, albeit with a slight side-eye. I challenge you to try this both inhand and in-saddle and evaluate how your horse reacts. For me, being the safety net on the ground remains the most effective option.

I’ve mentioned patience, so you’ll also need to be patient with your horse’s progress; it can take months to build these new habits, and consistency is key. While outrides can sometimes be a wild card with regard to spooks, it is worthwhile to begin these habits in an environment your horse is comfortable in. Start small, and introduce obstacles to your home arena; pool noodles, hula hoops, small dustbins, and pool floats are all great ideas, and you can use whatever you have on hand. I start in-hand to be my horse’s ‘bodyguard’ and move to the saddle once I’ve seen an improvement in reactions. Once you’re comfortable and confident at home, you can take your horse on a small outride in-hand using the same techniques, bearing in mind that your horse’s senses will be heightened in new environments.

THE OUTCOME Through continuous practice, my 14 hand fireball has become calm, patient, and near-bombproof, happily walking underneath cranes and through construction sites, crossing busy roads, and not doing more than a bum wiggle when we do come across something unexpected. As horse people, we learn more every day about different approaches to horsemanship and making the horse-human relationship safer and happier.

I invite you to try patience, reassurance, and praise with your horse and watch the trust within your relationship grow.

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FOCUS

UNDERSTANDING PARASITE RESISTANCE Frequent deworming treatments not tailored to the horse in question lead to the growth of parasite populations that are resistant to antihelminthics. As antihelminthics are the only chemicals available to fight worms, this is a big concern for vets.

Here’s how this resistance develops: • Individual worms carrying rare, random, genetic mutations that provide resistance to a particular chemical class of dewormer naturally occur in the parasite population.

• Too frequent or indiscriminate treatments with that dewormer will kill off the susceptible worms, leaving behind the resistant worms, which then reproduce.

• After each deworming treatment, resistant worms become a greater proportion of the population, and pass their resistant genes to the next generation.

• Soon most of the parasite population on the farm is resistant to that class of dewormers.

This means that the more frequently a resistance-prone chemical is used on a property, the more rapidly resistance develops.

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BREEDS

Peruvian Paso.

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GAITED HORSES What you need to know

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f the approximately 350 horse breeds in the world, 30 are gaited.

"Gaiting" is the term for a horse that "single-foots" (always has one foot in contact with the ground), ambles, paces, or does a running walk. Gaited horses have a smoother, more comfortable ride and are therefore popular for travelling longer distances. They also have greater stamina and endurance. The gaits are faster than a walk but generally slower than a canter.

The smooth gaits come in various forms and are often breed-specific.

Though there are differences in footfall patterns and the speed of the various gaits performed by the variety of ‘gaited’ breeds, these gaits have historically been referred to using the all encompassing term, ‘amble’. The many specific names for these gaits reflect the nuanced differences looked for by aficionados of each breed, with traits considered desirable in one breed sometimes being discouraged in another.

HISTORY Gaited horses have existed for thousands of years and were even described in the writings of the ancient Hittites. In the Middle Ages, the ability of a gaited horse to ‘amble’, and move smoothly over challenging terrain, meant that they were considered ‘suitable’ mounts for women. Similarly, many Kings used to ride to a battle on a gaited horse, for a comfortable ride, before switching to a non-gaited horse for the battle.

GENETICS Research has shown that a dominant gene, DMRT3, determines the ability to move in these specific gaits in certain horse breeds. This gene controls the spinal neurological circuits related to limb movement and motion. With gaits now known to be highly heritable, breeders can use gaited horses in their breeding programmes rather than trying to train non-gaited horses to move with gaits.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS Commonly, gaited breeds are sturdy, sensible mounts that don't require too much from the rider in terms of riding experience. Some naturally gaited horses, particularly those with lateral ambling gaits like pace and stepping, may have difficulty learning how to canter. Most gaited horses tend to be high-headed, with their heads set higher than most ‘non-gaited’ horses.

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BREEDS

Nooitgedacht stallion.

DID YOU KNOW? DMRT3 is referred to as the ‘gait’ keeper gene.

GAITED HORSES IN SOUTH AFRICA In South Africa, we often call these gaits the ‘triple’ or ‘tripling’ (as three hooves are off the ground at any one moment) and ‘umhambo’, which translates as ‘motion’ in Xhosa. Both the Transkei and Basuto Pony breeds are known to be gaited and this trait is also seen sometimes in their relative, the Nooitgedacht. Another indigenous South African breed that is gaited is the Kaapse Boerperd.

TRANSKEI PONY Breeding for these gaits in the Transkei Ponies makes good sense, as their main function is comfortable transport. These ponies are often used by rangers to keep animals off the roads to avoid accidents.

Marwari horses found in India are commonly gaited (and have the best ears!).

GAITED HORSE BREEDS OVERSEAS Some of the most common gaited horse breeds include: • American Saddlebred • American Standardbred • Icelandic Horse • Marwari • Morgan Horse • Tennessee Walking Horse • Paso Fino • Peruvian Paso • Rocky Mountain Horse • Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse

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DID YOU KNOW?

BREEDS

While a head bob while riding a non-gaited horse is often a sign of lameness, it is typical in ambling gaits. This head nod actually contributes to the quality of the gait.

AMBLING GAITS All ambling gaits have four beats. Some ambling gaits are lateral gaits, meaning that the feet on the same side of the horse move forward, but one after the other, usually in a sequence of right rear, right front, left rear, left front. Other ambling gaits are diagonal, meaning that the feet on opposite sides of the horse move forward in order, usually, right rear, left front, left rear, right front. Ambling gaits are further distinguished by the timing and cadence of the footfall pattern. One distinction is whether the footfall rhythm is isochronous, four equal beats in a 1-2-3-4 rhythm, or a nonisochronous 1-2, 3-4 rhythm created by a slight pause between the ground-strike of the front foot of one side and the hindfoot of the other.

Due to the heritability of the gaits, many horses display gaits with minimal encouragement, with some even displaying them from birth. Then some horses without apparent inborn gaited ability can be taught to "gait". However, training usually does rely on some inherited genetic ability in the horse.

Ambling gaits can be taught by slightly restraining the horse at a trot or canter. The length of the stride is kept long, but the rider asks the horse to alter its balance to break up the two strides in such a way that a four-beat gait is produced.

Sometimes, this effect is accidentally achieved in an attempt to create the slow two-beat jogging trot used in western pleasure riding. This occurs when the horse cannot sustain a slow jog and falls into a shuffling, four-beat gait described as "trotting in front and walking behind”.

Conformation also plays a role in the ability to ‘gait’. Horses with a longer back will find it easier to perform a lateral ambling gait, though they may also have to work harder to achieve collection. An average length back still allows a horse to perform ambling gaits, but a very short-coupled horse will struggle. A well-laid back shoulder and more horizontal hip angle favour a longer length of stride, which is helpful in horses that fox trot, while a steeper shoulder angle combined with more sloped croup produce a stride preferred for some lateral gaits such as the running walk.

THE BENEFITS OF A GAITED HORSE • Gaited horses can be easier to ride: Gaited horses tend to offer a smoother ride, with much less bounce, making them easier for beginners

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Ambling

to ride. This makes them particularly useful for inexperienced riders on trekking holidays or long trail rides.

• Gaited horses are great for covering long distances: Gaited horses can travel long distances without growing tired. This quality, coupled with the smooth ride they provide, make them common choices for trail rides.

• Most gaited horses are calm and easy-going by nature.

MYTHS ABOUT GAITED HORSES • Gaited horses cannot jump: Gaited horses are not natural jumpers but can be taught to jump, and some, like the Tennessee Walking Horses, are great once trained. Jumps must be introduced gradually, and pole work needs to be the first step.

Trot

• G aited horses are not safe as they are not as surefooted as other horses: This is just a myth! Gaited horses have been used for centuries to traverse even the most challenging terrain.

• Gaited horses need special saddles: No – gaited horses can go in any saddle that fits them properly.

• Gaited horses need special shoes: No – just like every other horse, gaited horses need a good farrier, but shoeing and trimming of gaited horses are no different to the shoeing and trimming of non-gaited horses.

Icelandic Horses on a trail ride.

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PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY: HILARY O’LEARY AND MIKE BUTLER

A brand to be admired

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ost riders across South Africa will know the brand Equestrian Affair. With their quality and classic designs their equestrian products are easily identifiable, and a visit to their stores is unforgettable.

Many of us, however, know little about the origins of this brand or its owner and founder, who remains the heartbeat of Equestrian Affair and continues to compete at the very top of the showjumping sport. In this article, we introduce you to Lara Neill and her journey in developing the brand from a dream into reality.

LARA’S STORY Lara grew up in Cape Town with a passion for horses. She did well at school but was ultimately always more focused on her ponies and horses. Lara was fortunate to have had lessons with Gonda Betrix from a young age and she and her parents took her riding seriously. Both Lara’s parents were adament, however, that she gain a tertiary education and so to keep the peace she did a BSoc in Psych and English, but after passing her degree she leapt at the opportunity of spending three months in Switzerland with Beat Mandli.

In those three months, she was privileged to ride some incredible young horses, and was able to attend some great young horse shows and the Zurich CSI World Cup Qualifier where she jumped in the 1m45 classes, allowing her to ride alongside her heroes. The time spent in Switzerland was invaluable and provided a huge learning curve and inspiration; after the three months, Lara was offered a more permanent position in Switzerland but was missing home far too much for that to be viable. Now knowing that she wanted to remain in South Africa, she needed to find a way to make her dreams with her horses a reality.

EQUESTRIAN AFFAIR – THE BEGINNINGS Lara’s trip overseas had been sponsored, but on her return, Lara now needed to find a way of making money to sustain herself and her two horses. For this reason, she started teaching riding and working for her father in the afternoons.

On a student’s budget, she quickly realised how expensive name brand tack was and saw there was a gap in the local market for beautiful tack at affordable prices. “I just couldn’t afford the tack I needed to have my horses look their best in the ring,” she says; “I became absolutely determined to create my own good quality, beautiful and affordable products for horses and riders.”

With the encouragement and support from her mother, Jenny, who has an incredible eye for design, particularly of interiors, Lara and Jenny ventured overseas to Spoga to see how viable Lara’s idea really was. At this stage, the

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PROFILE

purpose was just to gather the research needed to plan the project. However, upon return from Spoga, Lara and Jenny were alerted to a space that had become available at High Constantia in Cape Town that would be eminently suitable for housing an equestrian boutique store.

With no products sourced but enchanted by the prospects offered by the space, Lara and Jenny took the plunge and signed the lease. Originally, their hope was to be able to source products exclusively from South Africa, but due to limitations in the textile and manufacturing industry here and Lara’s unshakable belief that quality comes first, they had to source from overseas as well. Some of the first brands they brought in were Spooks, HV Polo, Kingsland and Waldhausen, and through their experience and the contacts they had met at the trade shows, they were able to meet manufacturers who were going to be able to produce exactly what they were looking for. With these manufacturers on board, and Lara’s keen eye for design, the EA RiderWear brand was born, and South Africans were quick to embrace it. To this day, Lara still cherry-picks her selection of products from a wide range of manufacturers, and whilst this is timeconsuming, her passion for all things beautiful, high quality, and, of course, equestrian makes it worthwhile. Riding at the top of the sport herself also means that she is able to test the products, and no product goes on shelf at Equestrian Affair without having been put through its paces by either Lara, one of the Neill family or one of their many brand ambassadors. The clothing, tack and general products on offer at Equestrian Affair speak for the passion behind the brand, a passion that one still feels when talking to Lara about her stores and their contents.

Equestrian Affair has gradually expanded from their original 60 square metre floor space in High Constantia and now have 300 square metres of floor space in a beautiful building in Chelsea Village in Wynberg, which has been turned into an exquisite space for everything equestrian. The space Equestrian Affair has recently opened in Kyalami is equally as charming and another visual feast for equestrian shoppers. On top of these two flagship stores, the brand has a permanent

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pop-up shop in Shongweni (KZN) and another at Blouberg Stables with Chris and Leona Van der Merwe.

THE STAFF It would be remiss not to mention the wonderful staff found across all Equestrian Affair stores. Lara’s mum Jennifer plays a huge part to the success of the business with her natural sense of style and design as well as being the hands on the ground in the Cape Town operation; Lara admits she is so grateful to have the unwavering support and assistance from her mum, who is as passionate about the business as Lara is. Tanner Carlisle manages the Johannesburg store and is assisted by the always smiling Norma Lugube. Tanner has breathed a breath of fresh air into the Johannesburg store, and his enthusiasm and eye for design can be seen in

every corner of the shop. The Cape Town branch is managed by Nadia Abrahams, and she is very ably assisted

by Siya Jimlogo. Siya has never ridden a horse, but through her determination to understand the EA clients’ needs, her knowledge of horse products is inspiring. Nadia has been at Equestrian

AMBASSADORS Equestrian Affair has a list of illustrious brand ambassadors including: Chatan Hendriks Barry Taylor - Lara’s wonderful instructor!

Lorette Taylor Ashlee Taylor Lisa Williams Grant Langley Chris van der Merwe Leona van der Merwe Gareth, Shaun and Cathryn Neill

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PROFILE

We’re all a family.

This is our happy place and we love what we do. We want everyone who walks in to walk out with something beautiful. I love this team and can’t wait for us to expand further.

– Tanner

Affair since its very early days and is an integral part of our team. She has a very keen sense of what clients want, and her loyalty, creative ability and determined attitude towards the business is something the entire team cherish.

THE JOHANNESBURG JOURNEY When Lara originally started the brand, she lived in Cape Town and travelled up and down to compete in Johannesburg. Eventually, Lara decided to make the move to Johannesburg but was reluctant to open an actual shop in Johannesburg due to the vast number of saddlery shops already in the area. She saw how all the shops in Europe had mobile units and decided this would be a great idea to introduce to the South African market and would be a clever way of getting Equestrian Affair to the shows around the country. Equestrian Affair was the first equestrian shop to have a mobile unit at shows. The support for the brand from the Johannesburg equestrians was unbelievable,

I’ve been here for 7 years, and I just love it. I’m so happy to come to work every single day. – Norma 67

PROFILE

Nadia and Siya.

THE CHERRY ON TOP Whilst Lara was excited by the prospects she could envisage for the space in Kyalami, she was a little concerned about the travel on the dust road required to get there: “I woke up several times in the middle of the night, thinking ‘What have I done?’” she says. “I was worried the extra bit of dust road would prove a deterrent”. Tanner, her Johannesburg manager, after walking the dust road several times to count the exact distance, suggested that they run a coffee shop at the store to give their customers something extra to go with their shopping experience. Lara, inspired by this idea, decided to dream big and contacted Seattle Coffee to see if they might be interested in running a shop on the premises. As Lara reports, this was not an ‘easy sell’. “They came to see the place when it was still in the very early stages of refurbishment, and a LOT of imagination and mood board inspiration was required to see what would be possible”. Thankfully, with support from others in the community and plenty of research, they were able to convince Seattle to move into the area and what a great shopping experience they have created!

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and the demand grew rapidly. It was quickly apparent that EA needed to find a space and open an actual store. They found a home at Gail Foxcroft’s new retail centre, Equifox Park and once again started out with a small floor space and gradually outgrew the available space, leading to the opening of their new space at Kyalami Equestrian Park.

One day, when attending a show at Kyalami Park, Lara saw the old building behind the Lipizzaner Hall, and with her imagination and creativity, was able to conceive just how beautiful this space could be, if given the proper make-over and investment. There was a dream about a great coffee shop to go alongside the new shop, and so those wheels were set in motion and they managed to get Seattle onboard to open a branch at the premises. The building was severely run down and had not been inhabited for a few years. However, the landlord was hugely accommodating and shared in EA’s vision for the space. They signed off on all the alterations required and helped turn the once rabbit warren house into an open-plan space, suitable for the store. This was not a small job, but the results of the project have been quite remarkable. Lara has signed a long lease on

the building, and for all those of us who are frequent visitors to the shop, we hope EA sticks around here.

EQUESTRIAN AFFAIR TODAY It’s fair to say that Lara has realised her dream of creating affordable and high-quality products to serve those with an equestrian lifestyle. Still doing everything herself in terms of sampling, product selection, branding, buying, design and décor, one can’t fail to be impressed by Lara and her passion and determination.

Running a business, competing eight horses at the top levels, working as an agent for Kuda Insurance and being a wife and mother to two children would be enough to make most of us spin, but Lara somehow manages it. “I am exceptionally lucky to have the most passionate and supportive team around me, who help make this dream a reality every day,” she laughs. Equestrian Affair as a brand is classy but never pretentious and delivers products of the highest quality and aesthetic appeal. Even a visit to the stores is an experience not to be forgotten. We’re so lucky to have determined and talented people like Lara and her team in our industry to make the equestrian lifestyle just that bit more beautiful.

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“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

BREEDS

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BREEDS

HARDY AND VERSATILE

TEXT: SKYE LITTLEFIELD

The origins of the Basotho Pony

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s their name suggests, Basotho ponies come from Lesotho, a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. If you’ve ever been to Lesotho, you’ll know that it is a country filled with mountains, and rocky terrain, often joined by vast grasslands. Because Lesotho is located at such a high altitude, it is often colder than the surrounding areas and experiences regular snowfall. These factors combined mean that only the strongest ponies can cope in Lesotho, and so the Basotho pony evolved.

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BREEDS

THE ORIGINS During the 1860s Lesotho became a British protectorate. At this time, a Thoroughbred stallion was gifted to the then-King Moshoeshoe by the British, but it was soon discovered that this regal breed of horse did not do well in the climate and terrain of the country. As an act of good faith, the Thoroughbred was replaced by a sturdy pony of an unknown breed, who took to the climate exceptionally well. This is where Basotho pony breeding began.

By crossing the Cape Horse (Boerperd) with horses imported by Dutch settlers, and the hardy ponies in Lesotho, the Basotho pony began to take shape, and became a fully-fledged breed. These ponies were never more than 14.2hh and were strong, sturdy, and surefooted, quickly showing their worth to the people of Lesotho.

As well as having the best physical features for the region, Basotho ponies are smart, willing, and fearless, showing their spirit on week-long treks.

Due to the lack of infrastructure in the country, Basotho ponies became people carriers and helped to transport goods through even the toughest of Lesotho’s terrain, which was very important for the land-locked country.

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BREED UNDER THREAT Unfortunately wars in the country resulted in the population of the Basotho ponies decreasing dramatically, with them being near extinction in the 1970s. In an effort to preserve the breed, the Basotho Pony Project was set up in 1977 and focused on breeding and raising Basotho ponies.

The following year the National Stud was set up, and collectively these two projects helped to save the Basotho pony.

TODAY Nowadays, the Basotho pony is a well-established breed within South Africa and they can be seen at shows. Within Lesotho their population has increased drastically and sits at approximately 100 000 ponies; they remain expert mountain ponies and are still used to this day to transport both goods and people throughout the country.

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Lose a hobby, gain a paion

Merlynn Trichardt 079 317 4556 | merlynn.bester15@gmail.com

H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

UNDERSTANDING

FORAGE What you need to know

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side from grazing in the pasture, hay is the predominant forage consumed by horses. During certain times of the year, hay may be the only forage available and selecting the right type is an integral part of formulating an appropriate diet for your horse. The general rule of thumb is to provide at least 1.5-2% of your horse’s body weight in forage per day.

The right hay for your horse depends on their body condition score, classification (e.g. breeding, growing, working, retired), health

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issues and other components of their diet.

Horses with health concerns such as insulin resistance do not tolerate high starch/sugar hay. Overweight good-doers may need a lower quality, mature hay that has fewer calories.

Hay can be classified into four general types: legumes, grass, cereal and mixed.

LEGUMES Legumes are generally more nutrient-dense than grass hays, with a higher calorie content.

They tend to be higher in crude protein,

energy and calcium, lower in fibre and moderate in non-structural carbohydrates.

These plants can fix nitrogen through nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root system, leading to the plant's higher protein level.

These hays are best suited to horses with higher nutritional requirements, including performance horses, lactating mares or horses in high levels of work. Yet, as legumes are moderate in non-structural carbohydrates, the forage can still be an option for horses with metabolic syndrome or a history of

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

Clover

laminitis. However, these horses do tend to be overweight, which means that legumes with their greater energy density are best fed as only a small part of the diet.

Fundamentally, legumes are a high-quality and nutritious roughage. The two common legumes are lucerne and clover.

LUCERNE/ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA) The main legume hay fed here in South Africa is lucerne. Lucerne tends to be more expensive than grass hay, and we also need to be aware that

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whilst it is high in protein, it is generally lower in fibre. However, by many, lucerne is regarded as the king of all fodder because of its high nutritional value, high palatability and suitability for use with a wide range of animals. During winter or pasture shortages, it can also be used as a supplement to increase the roughage and nutrient intake.

Lucerne has a good leaf-to-stem ratio and is a good source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. It should, however, not exceed 50 to 60% of the total daily roughage intake. It should be supplemented with another roughage such as teff

Lucerne/alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

CLOVER

Teff hay (Eragrostis teff)

Clover provides protein, energy and calcium at a higher level when compared with grasses. Clover hay is not common; however, clover is usually mixed in with pasture for grazing purposes.

GRASS HAYS Grass hays, the second primary category of hay, tend to be lower in crude protein, energy, calcium and fibre than legume hay and moderate in non-structural carbohydrates. This makes them suitable to feed to a wide variety of horses, particularly those that are easy-keepers or doing less work.

TEFF HAY (ERAGROSTIS TEFF) Teff is a grass hay, which was originally grown in Ethiopia as a grain. It is one of the earliest domesticated plants. Teff is generally a lownon-structural carbohydrate hay and, in recent years, has become popular forage for horses with insulin resistance and other related issues. Teff is a widely fed roughage in South Africa. A great or eragrostis, which are higher in fibre, to keep the digestive tract in healthy, working order. Shortchanging horses on fibre can be risky with colic etc, so we need to be careful of this.

Similarly, in mature horses, we need to be careful of too much protein. Most horses in hard work need calories, not protein specifically. If horses consume more protein than they need, they drink more water and simply break down the protein and excrete it in urine. You’ll know about this as the stable will smell strongly of ammonia!

Air quality in the stable is then poor, increasing the risk of lung irritation and respiratory diseases.

Excess protein in a hard-working horse also increases the risk of dehydration and overheating.

Lucerne in South Africa is graded according to the nutritional value and fibre quality (age at cutting). The higher the grade (lower fibre content, higher digestibility and nutritional content), the higher the non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) value. However, the NSC of lucerne is in the form of pectin, which is a generally safe form of carbohydrate for sugarsensitive horses. A later cut of lucerne (lowergrade quality), on the other hand, has a lower NSC value and sugar content and is very safe hay to use for horses who require a low-NSC diet.

In multiple studies done, lucerne has shown that it can be effective in the reduction of the severity of gastric ulcers. It can reduce the occurrence of gastric ulcers because of the buffering capacity it provides, thus protecting the stomach lining from the effects of stomach acid.

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Eragrostis (Weeping love grass/oulandsgras)

A NOTE ON CUTTINGS The first cutting in many regions has a few more weeds, as these tend to grow earlier in the season. The second and third cuttings may be a little bit cleaner from this perspective.

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

Rhodes grass

concern with the use of teff is the variable qualities available, which have an influence on nutrient quality and palatability. If managed correctly, teff can have a high protein level with adequate fibre digestibility and a higher energy value than other grasses used as roughage. Care must be taken, however, when buying teff to ensure the quality is good and that it is not mouldy, which can cause problems when feeding to horses.

protein value can vary from 9 to 15%. With good management, Rhodes grass can be a moderate- to high-quality roughage source for horses. When cut at an early stage, it can have a fibre digestibility value of between 60 and 70%, making it a more useable and palatable roughage for the horse.

Rhodes grass can be used as an alternative roughage to teff and eragrostis, or it can be used as a roughage source to add variety to the diet.

ERAGROSTIS (WEEPING LOVE GRASS/ OULANDSGRAS)

CEREAL HAY

Eragrostis has a lower protein value, lower fibre digestibility and a lower energy value when compared to teff. With good management, however, it can be as good quality as wellmanaged teff.

RHODES GRASS Rhodes grass is a fairly new grass being used in South Africa as a roughage source for horses. The

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Cereal hays are from the stems, leaves and grains of oat, barley and wheat plants. A good quality cereal hay is harvested when the grain is immature (milk stage) and the leaves and stems are still green, which makes it higher in digestible nutrients.

The advantage of cereal hay is that if harvested at the right time, it is very palatable to horses. This is partly related to its high sugar content. Naturally, this advantage is also a major disadvantage in

SUGAR CONTENT VARIES Choosing a grass is tricky as not all legumes or grass hays are low in non-structural carbohydrates (or sugars). The sugar content varies depending on the growing conditions, soil fertility and other factors. If you are looking for lowsugar hay for a metabolic horse, it’s all about how the hay is grown and managed.

that it makes cereal hays unsuitable for insulin resistant or laminitis prone horses. The high sugar content can also cause horses to spend hours grazing on it, resulting in dental issues.

OAT HAY Oat hay is a reasonable roughage choice for horses if teff and eragrostis are not readily available.

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H The time of cut/stage of maturity will determine the quality of the hay. Later-cut oat hay will have fewer sugars in the stems (sugar stored in seed heads) and will therefore be safer to use for sensitive horses, but this can also lead to more wastage because the stems are not that palatable.

An earlier-cut oat hay is a higher-quality and better-digestible energy source. Oat hay can make up a great proportion of the daily roughage intake for mature, idle horses, provided they are not overweight or suffering from metabolic issues.

THE BEST HAY FOR THE HORSE So which type of hay is best for your horse?

Basically, this depends on your horse and the specifics of each hay batch.

First, you need to consider the maturity of hay when it’s cut. Regardless of the type of hay, the nutritional value, including protein and vitamin levels, will vary depending on the timing of the harvest – whether the plants were immature and growing or had become tall and more mature. An older, more mature plant contains more lignin (a non-digestible fibre) to support its height and structure and fewer nutrients. So, while Oat hay

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many people may think a first, second, or third cutting of hay from a particular field is ‘better’, the cutting doesn’t have as much to do with hay quality as the maturity of the plant when it is harvested.

A plant that has bloomed or gone to seed has fewer nutrients and more fibre. When you open a bale of hay like this, the stems will be stiff, not soft, and there will be more stems than leaves, with mature seedheads.

Having said this, hay harvested earlier is not necessarily ‘better’ than hay harvested later. In fact, each type might be ideal for certain horses.

You want relatively immature hay with a lot of leaves and fewer stems for young growing horses, lactating mares, hard-working athletic horses and any horses that need high-quality hay with high nutrient levels. The immature plant is highly palatable and very digestible.

On the other hand, more mature hay is good for the easy-keeping horse that isn’t working particularly hard. This hay has more fibre (more stem and less lead) and is, therefore, less digestible. Provided it has been well made and isn’t dusty or mouldy, it can be very good hay for

the right horse. It provides the necessary fibre and gives the horse something to chew on for more of the day. If, for example, you were to feed an overweight horse with one slice of alfalfa, it would meet the nutrient needs quickly but would also be finished quickly, and the horse would still be hungry and standing around without anything in his stomach. This could lead to ulcers or boredom, that could predispose a horse to develop stereotypies.

Of course, palatability is also a concern and will affect how much hay a horse is likely to eat.

More mature and fibrous hay is not as appealing to some horses taste-wise. It also stays in the gastrointestinal tract for longer, making the horse feel full and likely to eat less. Hay made of shorter, less mature plants is generally more palatable and digestible, plus it moves through the digestive tract faster so the horse can eat more to get more calories and nutrients.

REMEMBER The quality of the forage is greatly influenced by the following: stage of growth when cut, fertilisation and environmental factors.

These factors must be taken into account when these hays are fed to horses at various levels of production/workloads.

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WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL FESTIVE SEASON! We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for your continued support throughout the year.

We wish you and your family a wonderful festive season and hope 2022 is filed with much success.

For feeding advice and technical support contact: Leigh Adams 083 998 6824 | Hannah Botha 0734235491 | Debbie Dick 076 755 5164 www.epolequine.co.za

H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

NO CHOKE TEXT: HANNAH BOTHA, MSC EQUINE SCIENCE, EPOL NUTRITION ADVISOR

Understanding this scary health condition

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s owners and loving carers of our steeds, it’s always nice to see our horse rushing to his feed bucket and finishing every bit of food in sight. Commonly, this is believed to be a sign that the horse enjoys his food. However, in some cases, the speed at which a horse eats their food could put them at risk for choke, otherwise known as oesophageal obstruction. Choke can be caused by food or foreign matter.

MECHANISM Choke occurs when food or a foreign object gets stuck in the oesophagus of the horse.

The muscular oesophagus normally contracts

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to force food down into the stomach of the horse. However, when food or a foreign object gets stuck, the muscles that line the tube may contract and spasm around the blockage, preventing the obstruction from moving downwards into the stomach. This situation needs resolving as soon as possible. Once the food or obstruction arrives in the stomach, which has a much larger diameter, it is unlikely to cause further problems as it passes through the rest of the digestive tract.

WHY DOES CHOKE HAPPEN? The most common cause of choke is swallowing too much too quickly or “bolting” food. The other

NOT IMMEDIATELY LIFETHREATENING Unlike in humans, choke in horses is not an immediately life-threatening condition. In humans who choke the trachea (windpipe) is blocked preventing the individual from breathing. However, in horses with choke it is the oesophagus (the muscular tube leading from the mouth to the stomach) that is blocked. Therefore, the airflow to the lungs is not compromised in choking horses in the same way that it is in choking humans.

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H

Most blockages which do not clear on their own are actually ones at the distal end of the neck, and in these cases the swelling is more likely to be seen on the left-hand side of the neck in front of the forequarters. Despite a visible blockage, DO NOT attempt to massage the visible swelling up or down or give your horse any liquid in an attempt to drench him yourself – wait for the vet!

The oesophagus of the horse runs from the pharynx down into the stomach.

common cause is swallowing anything that has not been thoroughly chewed and moistened with saliva, which occurs more often in old or young horses that perhaps don’t have good dentition. A rarer cause is partial obstruction of the oesophagus due to scarring from an old injury or a tumour.

SIGNS OF CHOKE Horses usually show signs of choke pretty quickly after the blockage occurs. Some of the common signs of choke include: • extending the neck • moving away from the feed bucket • looking worried or anxious • standing with head down and legs spread wider than normal • coughing • snorting • gagging or making unusual noises • saliva dripping from the horse’s mouth and nostrils. This may appear as a greenish or brownish discharge, often containing particles of feed substance.

• other signs of distress such as pawing, sweating and box-walking are also common.

IS CHOKE A SERIOUS PROBLEM? Horses, unlike humans, can’t breathe through their mouths, and thus a blockage would only inhibit further swallowing, rather than putting them in danger of suffocation. However, the situation can still become serious if the obstruction is not removed quickly.

“Possibly the most serious complication occurs when saliva backs up behind the obstruction and then is pushed into the trachea or windpipe.

Normally, the horse’s head-down eating position keeps this from occurring, but when the oesophagus is blocked, saliva and food particles may be forced past the epiglottis, a flap of cartilage that keeps swallowed food and water out of the trachea. In a horse with choke, some of the saliva drains harmlessly from the nostrils, but saliva and grain particles may also be drawn into the lungs, and pneumonia is the

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common result” (KER 2008). Pneumonia in these instances can be life-threatening.

Dehydration is another common issue when obstructions occur as more saliva than normal will be lost. If the horse is unable to drink due to the obstruction, this further increases the risk of dehydration.

Oesophageal tissues at the blockage site may also begin to swell and can become so irritated that they ulcerate. Scar tissue from this type of injury greatly increases the chance that the horse will choke again.

may be performed as a treatment of last resort.

When the obstruction is cleared, the veterinarian will decide whether to administer antibiotics to prevent infection of the throat or lungs” (KER, 2008) After initial treatment, feed and hay may be restricted for at least the first 24 hours. This allows the throat some time to rest and heal. Hay and feed would then be gradually introduced back by first offering only soaked hay or even chopped hay such as chaff and the wettest mashes of the horse’s normal feed.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN A CHOKE CASE?

WHAT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN?

A choking horse should not be allowed to eat or drink anything further and should be kept as calm as possible until the obstruction can be cleared. Ideally you need your horse to keep their head down to lessen the risk of anything entering the trachea and lungs.

“Some chokes resolve without treatment, but in many cases, a vet must administer sedatives or muscle relaxants to loosen contractions of the oesophagus. Water or other lubricants may be given by a nasogastric tube to flush the material out of place. If this procedure is done incorrectly, it can complicate the problem, so this is not a “home remedy” option. Surgery is usually not necessary but

Prevention will largely depend on the reason for choke. If it was a foreign object, then it’s possible the choking episode would be a once-off if Soaked beet pulp can be a good option after a choking episode, but only if properly soaked according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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H O R S E A N D H E A LT H IMPORTANT If your horse manages to clear the blockage on his own, do not cancel the vet visit. Your vet will need to examine your horse at some stage to assess if he is concerned about lasting damage, and if there are any predisposing factors that will need to be addressed. managed correctly. If, on the other hand, it was due to poor quality, tough hay or plants within the horse’s paddock, then alternative roughage sources will need to be sourced, or the horse moved from the offending paddock.

For owners who feel that dry food was the source of the issue, adding soaked beet pulp to their feed, soaking cubes and even soaking meal type feeds, as well as soaking hay before feeding, can all help to prevent future episodes. These measures all add water to the diet, which increases the lubrication for the food moving down the oesophagus.

Alternatively, if the horse is known to “bolt” food, then management changes can be made as the first port of call and generally, these will centre around slowing the horse down while eating. This can be done by putting several large, smooth rocks in the feed bucket to keep the horse from being able to pick up too much food in one mouthful or by putting the food into a feed ball that drops feed out in small amounts when the horse moves the ball around. Similarly, cutting up feed and treats into smaller pieces can help them to more easily pass through the oesophagus.

The only issue with such measures is that it doesn’t stop the problem at the source, and it should be investigated as to why the horse is swallowing large quantities of dry material? One also needs to look at how the situation can be altered so that the horse ingests small mouthfuls of well-chewed and moistened food.

There could be several issues causing the “bolting” of food, such as: • being fed in a group. The horse may feel food must be eaten quickly to avoid competition, and so keeping the horse alone at feeding time may help.

• any kind of food restriction or being without food for any length of time.

• being very hungry when the food arrives. Providing some hay before meal times can ensure the horse is not

Using big smooth river stones in your horse’s bowl can help to reduce the speed at which your horse consumes his food.

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Nasal discharge, often containing food, is commonly seen in cases of choke.

anxiously awaiting the next meal and is fuller before starting to eat. Similarly, feeding lots of smaller meals can help.

There can also be issues meaning the horse eats food that is too dry, such as: • competition for water in the paddock, meaning that horses don’t get to drink when consuming food.

• poor water quality, i.e. buckets not being clean, so the horse becomes reluctant to drink • dental issues, as if the horse is uncomfortable, then they may chew less and will fail to produce adequate saliva (horses can only produce saliva when they chew) to moisten the food. Teeth should be checked once or twice a year.

• sick horses also often do not have the energy to chew their food correctly, so wetting their food can really help to reduce the risk of choke, at least in the acute situation.

CAN AVOIDING CERTAIN TYPES OF FEED HELP? The answer to this is no. It would be wonderful if this was the case, then that type of feed could simply be avoided. However, the fact is that almost anything the horse swallows—grains, complete feeds, small pellets, big pellets, chunks of apples or carrots—can all potentially cause choke if the material is consumed in large amounts or is too dry to pass easily along the oesophagus.

It has been thought that pelleted feeds are the most frequent cause, but this has not been borne out in the research, and many yards have used

such products for years with no issues.

Fibrous hay or tough plants encountered while grazing may lead to choke. In addition, some horses can pick up rocks, sticks, or other objects in the pasture, whether intending to eat them or just play with them, and these objects may become lodged in the oesophagus, causing choke.

LONG-TERM Most cases of choke thankfully resolve on their own or with simple tubing by your vet. However, if it takes a long time for the blockage to pass, longterm damage can be caused to the lining of the oesophagus. In each case your vet will advise you on the best approach.

References • Kentucky Equine Research, 2008. KER research staff: https://ker.com/equinews/choking-horsesprevention-treatment/ • Contributors: Deidre M. Carson, BVSc, MRCVS & Sidney W. Ricketts, LVO, BSc, BVSc, DESM, DipECEIM, FRCPath, FRCVS. https://vcahospitals. com/know-your-pet/choke-in-horses

NOTE If the choke episode occurred after prolonged exercise or during intense lactation, it could be due to low saliva production and dry throat membranes related to dehydration, so always monitor the horse’s water intake and hydration levels.

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YOUR EQUESTRIAN QUESTIONS ANSWERED

The accident prone horse can be a challenge to manage.

y gelding is constantly injuring M himself. He is always covered in cuts, has stepped on his coronary band a couple of times, and cracked two teeth. Is he just accident-prone, or is there something wrong with him?

The first thing to suggest would be a good physical examination by your vet. This would include a

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focused look at his neurological system and his visual system. If he is having difficulties with his balance, is sore or cannot see properly, this can alter his gaits and interactions with the environment and may be the reason he is always hurting himself. Your vet will be able to put him through a variety of tests to see if there is an issue.

However, if your horse is otherwise healthy, he may be simply inquisitive, which can lead him to get into trouble through boredom.

The best advice in this situation is to do what you can to make his environment safe, and maybe also add in some toys that can keep him occupied and provide a source of entertainment. Options included flavoured licks and treat balls. A regular exercise programme and plenty of turn-out may also help to use up a bit of his energy, causing him to be a little more tired and a little less inquisitive. Finally, making sure that he always has access to forage is important for keeping him busy and stimulated.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What are the signs my horse might have worms?

I'm trying to teach my horse the medium paces so that we can move up a level in dressage, but he just runs in the medium trot.

How do I help him to understand what I'm asking for?

To achieve a good medium trot, the horse's hindlegs need to step under and carry the horse forwards. Some horses naturally find this a lot easier than others. With some horses, if you simply ride transitions within the pace and gradually build up the amount of medium trot that you ask for, they will build their strength to maintain this pace. In others, they find the 'carrying' element of the hindlegs much more difficult to achieve, and in these horses, you need to improve the engagement of the

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hindquarters before you can hope to achieve a good medium trot.

To help to engage the hindquarters to improve the medium trot, there are a couple of exercises you can try: • Focus on your horse's lateral work, particularly the shoulder-in. Try coming out of the corner of the arena riding a few strides of shoulder-in, then come out of the shoulder-in down the rest of the long side, maintaining the trot rhythm while asking for a few strides of medium trot.

• Develop medium trot by riding your horse up a shallow incline while out hacking. In this exercise, simply ask for the medium trot while riding up a slope. You should stay in rising trot initially as your horse will need to develop his strength before you can introduce the additional weight of sitting.

The symptoms of a worm infestation can vary widely depending on the type of worm involved and the number of worms infecting the horse. Many horses with worm burdens will have no symptoms when the burden is low, but when it is higher, signs do tend to develop.

Being on the lookout for signs of worms and promptly treating any issues will hopefully prevent serious health problems from developing.

Some of the symptoms to look out for in your horse include: • Unexplained weight loss • Anaemia • Poor appetite • Diarrhoea or constipation • Colic • Dull demeanour • Staring coat • Reduced performance • Patches of hair loss or dry skin • Horse rubbing his tail and anus regularly • Parasites visible in the manure • Respiratory problems such as a nasal discharge or a cough • Poor growth in foals It is recommended that you perform a faecal egg count on your horse every six months to check his worm burden and determine if treatment is needed and, if so, with which dewormer. For more information on this, check out our digital issue HQ157a.

If you are concerned that your horse may have a high worm burden, chat to your vet.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

My horse can get quite wheezy in the summer, particularly at the start when pollen starts to appear.

Would giving a supplement help?

Pollen sensitivity in the spring and summer months can inflame the delicate lining of the nose and airways in some horses in a similar

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way to hay fever in humans. The term for this inflammation in horses, which is usually caused by an allergic reaction, is recurrent airway obstruction, or RAO. It is one of the most common respiratory disorders in horses. Signs are a chronic cough and increased respiratory effort, although snorting and headshaking can also be seen in horses who are sensitive to pollen.

Pharmacological support is available for

RAO, and your vet will need to prescribe this if needed. However, nutritional support can also help a great deal. Look out for scientifically proven respiratory support supplements, based on a balance of plant-based antioxidants, alongside vitamin C, E and selenium. Other options to improve symptoms include reduced dust exposure in the environment through, for example, steaming of hay, the use of specific bedding and increased turn-out.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the purpose of whiskers?

Whiskers, or vibrissae, are sensory hairs that provide valuable information for the horse. Horses have sensory vibrissae on their muzzles (around their nostrils, mouth and chin) as well as around their eyes on both their upper and lower eyelids. These exquisitely sensitive hairs are longer, thicker and stiffer than normal coat hairs, and each whisker has its own blood supply. There are densely packed nerves at their root, which send sensory messages to the somatosensory cortex in the horse's brain.

A horse's whiskers help him to navigate his environment. Indeed, they are so sensitive to vibration and changes in the air currents that they can instantly inform the horse about his environment, helping him

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to avoid injury by detecting nearby objects, and differentiating between textures, judging wind direction and identifying food sources.

In many ways, the horse's vibrissae allow his muzzle to function like the human hand. The horse's top lip is very mobile, which allows him to grasp and manipulate objects, and with the density of nerve endings present in the whiskers, the horse has dexterity and feeling in his muzzle, comparable to that of a human hand.

Whiskers help newborn foals find their mother's teats, and adult horses use them to judge the distance of objects from their face. Many of us have seen our horses test whether an electric fence is on or not, using the tips of their whiskers. Essentially, these structures are very important!

It is also believed that vibrissae may play a role in communication between horses and that they might be a key compensatory mechanism for horses that lose their vision.

How can I keep my hands still in rising trot?

To keep your hands still in the rising trot, focus on your elbows rather than your hands. Rest your elbows against your sides, where they should bend and maintain the weight of relaxed shoulders. Think of the straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth and maintain an even, elastic contact with your hands level. When you rise in the trot, the elbow should open and then close as you sit. This means that your hands stay quiet and don’t move up and down but instead stay with the movement of your horse.

Top tip: When it is safe to do so, try closing your eyes as you trot and feel what is happening to your elbows as your hips rise up and forwards.

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PRIDEY’S PIECE

RESOLUTIONS FROM PRIDEY

For us

At this time of year, I like to create resolutions and set some goals for the year ahead. Naturally, I have no need of these myself – you can’t improve on perfection – so I prefer to set them for those around me, as I can assure you there is some room for improvement there. Here are my five main resolutions for all those in my servitude: 1. Go organic – My health is important and I will not have my body poisoned by geneticallymodified, pesticide-ridden filth. I demand organic carrots and apples only.

2. Reduce distractions – I read an insightful quote about the seven deadly sins…

“Lust: Tinder Sloth: Netflix Pride: Twitter Greed: Amazon Envy: Instagram Wrath: Facebook Gluttony: Uber Eats” – Dakota Robertson

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Do you know what isn’t mentioned there? Pridey.

Spending time with Pridey. Reading about Pridey in HQ. In fact, all things Pridey. Move away from distractions and love your Pridey. It’s good for you – I promise.

3. Take responsibility – Don’t expect to train me to win competitions for you… You want to jump 1m? Take up hurdling… It’s not my job to win your rosettes.

4. Save money – Don’t be spending your money on frivolous luxuries. SPEND IT ALL ON ME. 5. Stop procrastinating – Yes, that’s right, get my needs met TODAY. Right now. Instantaneously.

Boom.

Focus on these five resolutions and your 2022 will be your best year yet. Guaranteed.

Over and out,

Pridey xxx 95

NEXT PRINT ISSUE March 2022 www.hqmagazine.co.za 96

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ISSUE 157 DECEMBER 2021

SOUTH AFRICA’S PREMIER EQUESTRIAN MAGAZINE HQ

HQ Pony Magazine is available digitally on the first of every month. Check it out today!